Urban Environmental Quality Index Applied to the Popuca-Botinhas and Pedrinhas Watersheds in the Municipality of Guarulhos – SP

Abstract

The concept of urban quality of life describes the ideal conditions of inhabitable space in terms of comfort. The Brazilian Constitution foresees quantitative and qualitative diagnoses of space aiming at equal conditions for individuals in the city. Thus, applying environmental indicators is an important and effective tool for understanding the environment of the city, being used in decision-making for public policies. This study aimed to evaluate the environmental quality in the region of the Popuca-Botinhas and Pedrinhas river basins, in the Municipality of Guarulhos, SP, using Urban Environmental Quality Index – UEQI. The UEQI was created by crossing the indicators of Sanitary Sewage, Origin of Supply, Garbage Collection, and Environmental Conditions. Each indicator generated a georeferenced thematic map capable of interpreting its behavior. These maps were integrated to compose the thematic map. The results showed that the critical environmental quality of the sub-basins region is linked to uncontrolled urban development. Districts such as Jardim Nova Cumbica, Jardim Arapongas, and Jardim Vermelhão had low UEQI, highlighting urgent need for improvements by public authorities.