🌧️ Attention to the Mata do Urso Aquifer: the heart of the water we drink in Pombal
Storm Kristin has passed, but it left behind an important wake-up call. The Mata do Urso Aquifer, which supplies much of the municipality of Pombal, is one of our most valuable natural resources — and also one of the most vulnerable.
This water system depends on natural rainfall infiltration to stay healthy. But extreme weather events like the one we just experienced bring risks we can’t ignore:
⚠️ Risks linked to Storm Kristin and upcoming rainfall
• Soil overload: heavy rain can carry surface pollutants into infiltration zones.
• Erosion and instability: strong winds and saturated ground can expose sensitive areas of the aquifer.
• Diffuse contamination: agricultural, industrial, or poorly managed wastewater areas become more dangerous during extreme rain.
• Pressure on the water capture system: infrastructure becomes more vulnerable when exposed to repeated climate events.
The aquifer is resilient, but it’s not invincible. And the truth is simple: if the aquifer is affected, so is the water that reaches our homes.
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💡 What can be done right now
We don’t need to wait for problems to act. Immediate measures can make a real difference:
✔️ 1. Reinforced monitoring
Continuous tracking of water quality and groundwater levels after extreme events.
✔️ 2. Protection of infiltration zones
Clearing debris, controlling discharges, and inspecting high-risk activities.
✔️ 3. Infrastructure reinforcement
Ensuring that capture systems and pumps are ready for more frequent and intense storms.
✔️ 4. Transparent information
The public has the right to know the state of the aquifer and what’s being done to protect it.
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💬 Why this matters
The water we drink doesn’t come from the tap — it comes from a natural system that needs care, respect, and vigilance.
If we want to secure Pombal’s future, we must start by protecting what keeps us alive: our aquifer.
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🌍 Ambientais e de proteção da água
• #ProtegeOAquífero
• #ÁguaÉVida
• #TempestadesERecursos
• #CuidarDosRecursosNaturais
• #SustentabilidadeJá
📍 Locais e comunitárias
• #ViverPombal
• #PombalConsciente
• #MataDoUrso
• #ÁguaDePombal
• #ComunidadeAtiva
⚠️ Emergência e ação
• #TempestadeKristin
• #RiscosAmbientais
• #AçãoImediata
• #MonitorizarJá
• #PrevenirÉProteger
💬 Cidadania e exigência
• #TransparênciaNaÁgua
• #DireitoÀInformação
• #FiscalizaçãoJá
• #GestãoResponsável