FACES OF CISTERNS AND WATER TANKERS IN THE AGRARIAN SPACE OF EUCLIDES DA CUNHA-BA

Abstract

This work aims to analyze the faces, positive and negative aspects, of water cisterns and water tankers in the agrarian space of the Bahian municipality of Euclides da Cunha. The study was based on: a) bibliographic and documentary survey on the topic; b) carrying out field work at the Rural Workers Union (STR – Sindicato dos Trabalhadores Rurais) at the Secretariats of Agriculture and the Environment, at the Rural Credit and Assistance Association (ACAR - Associação de Crédito e Assistência Rural), and  also in rural villages. The faces of the plate and polyethylene cisterns demonstrate that their implementation promotes improvements in the lives and work of peasant families benefiting through the One Million Cisterns Program (P1MC – Programa Um Milhão de Cisternas) and the Water for All Program (Programa Água Para Todos). However, we noted some limitations arising from periods of drought that affect the system for capturing and storing rainwater in cisterns, being the local political authorities in charge of supplying them with water transported by tankers. We observe the old traditional forms of domination and power in the control and distribution of water by large landowners, some of whom sell water on a daily basis, but during election periods they exchange it for votes and after the election they return to commercialization.

Keywords: cisterns, water tankers, rural villages, Euclides da Cunha.