ECOWATER TECHNOLOGIES LTDA

The Northeast Atlantic Hydrographic Region is located basically in Maranhão and in a small eastern portion of the state of Pará. Its area is 274.301 km², approximately 3.2% of the area of ​​Brazil, and about 9% of this area belong to the State of Pará and the remaining 91% to the State of Maranhão. The total population in the region in 2010 was 6,244,419 inhabitants, equivalent to 3.3% of the Brazilian population, of which 61% live in urban areas.

The sub-basins of the Mearim and Itapecuru rivers are the largest, with areas of 101,061 square kilometers and 54,908 square kilometers, respectively, where there is an average flow of 2,608 m³ / s, or 1% of the country's total. the highest demand is concentrated per m³ / s of water.

The main requirement of water in the basin is for human consumption, corresponding to 45% of the total. Then comes the animal demand, with 18% of the total use and the demand for irrigation, with 15%.

The most important ecosystems of the region are the equatorial forest, restingas, transition forest, decidual seasonal forest (deciduous forest). The most significant environmental impacts due to human occupation are currently observed in the western transition zone of the tropical forest. In much of the northeast coastal basin, inadequate agricultural practices are used, leading to erosion, salinization and, in some cases, the formation of desertified areas.

The region does not face major problems with river water quality. This is mainly due to the small and medium-sized urban localities and the industrial park of little expression. However, in the metropolitan region of São Luis and in some urban centers, the contamination of the waters by the discharge of untreated sewage causes losses and restricts other uses. It is estimated that the remaining organic organic load in the river basin is 154 tons of BOD5 / day (Biochemical Oxygen Demand), about 2.8% of the total of the Country.