THE SOCIO-ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM OF FLOODS AND WATERLOGGING IN THE PEDREIRA NEIGHBORHOOD, BELÉM, PARÁ: THE CASE OF FLOODPLAIN AREAS

Abstract

The objective of this study is to analyze the causes of floods and waterlogging in the Pedreira neighborhood, in Belém, Pará, and the impacts perceived by residents, considering the effects of unplanned urban expansion, inadequate solid waste management, and increasing soil impermeabilization. The methodology was developed through fieldwork, a literature review, and the systematization of geographic data, with the support of cartography to identify areas more susceptible to the occurrence of these events. The results indicate that floods and waterlogging result from the interaction between natural and human-induced factors, including terrain geomorphology, the capacity of watercourses during intense rainfall, deficiencies in the maintenance of drainage channels, especially the Galo and Pirajá channels, inadequate land occupation, and improper solid waste disposal. Impacts perceived by the resident population were also identified, reinforcing the socio-environmental dimension of the problem. It is concluded that understanding these events requires an integrated approach capable of articulating physical characteristics and urban processes. The study also highlights the importance of geographic analyses and cartography as tools to support urban environmental planning and management in areas susceptible to floods and waterlogging.