The European policy for sustainable development envisages a high degree of protection of the environment and the human health, as a part of social welfare, compatible with a sound economy. The possibility of maintaining economic growth with decreasing environmental pressure, the so called decoupling, is central in the attempt of making compatible environmental and economic objectives. Decoupling claims for a new way of understanding economic relations, in which the material dimension of the economy is much more relevant than in traditional economics. As a consequence, also new policy instruments emerge. The paper discusses the use of economic analysis and instruments in the implementation of the European Water Framework Directive, focusing on the incoherencies that a weak conceptual approach can introduce in practice.

Water for Belem’s Metropolitan Area is supplied by COSANPA (Companhia de Saneamento do Pará), which uses the water source of the lakes Utinga, Bolonha and Água Preta. These lakes are considered the most important in the region, and are responsible for the provision of water to 75% of that population. These water sources receive continuously a contribution of waters from Guamá River in order to maintain their water level. The period of study was 12 months (feb/2006 to jan/2007), using 12 sampling points (surface and bottom), being 11 points in Água Preta Lake (point 1 to 11) and 1 point in Bolonha Lake (point 12). All samples were obtained using a hydrologic bottle (Niskin). The objective of this research is to study abiological parameters such as temperature, turbidity, apparent color, electric conductivity, pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, N-amoniacal, phosphate, solids in suspension and the water’s transparency, in order to evaluate it’s behavior related to the lake’s seasonality and hydrology. The hydrological variables studied were input and output water flow, precipitation, water level variation and variation in the volume of waters. The batimetry in Água Preta Lake was accomplished to obtain current mean depth data.. A statistical treatment was applied to the results in order to evaluate the relationship between the studied parameters. Turbidity, apparent color and solids in suspension parameters reached higher concentrations in the period of minor precipitation and they presented values varying between 4 and 59 UNT; 15 to 550 mg L-1 Pt Co and 1 to 57 mg L-1, respectively. The electric conductivity presented a similar distribution when compared to the analyzed physical parameters, with higher concentrations in the period of minor precipitation, and it varied from 35,40 μ S / cm - 1 to 149,70 μ S / cm -1. The studied nutrients (nitrate, N-amoniacal and phosphate) presented the maximum values of 1,4 mg L-1, 1,34 mg L-1 and 1,6 mg L-1, respectively. | A Região Metropolitana de Belém é abastecida com água potável pela Companhia de Saneamento do Pará (COSANPA), que utiliza os mananciais do Utinga, lagos Bolonha e Água Preta, considerados os mais importantes da região, responsáveis pelo abastecimento de 75% dessa população. Os mananciais recebem diuturnamente contribuição das águas do rio Guamá, para manter seus níveis de água. A amostragem das águas (superficiais e fundo) foi feita em 12 pontos, 11 no lago Água Preta e 1 no lago Bolonha. Todas as coletas foram realizadas com o auxilio de uma garrafa hidrológica (Niskin). O trabalho teve como objetivo estudar os parâmetros abióticos como temperatura, turbidez, cor aparente, condutividade elétrica, pH, oxigênio dissolvido, nitrato, N-amoniacal, fosfato, sólidos suspensos e transparência da água, para avaliar seu comportamento frente a sazonal idade e hidrologia nos lagos. As variáveis hidrológicas estudadas foram vazões de entrada e saída dos lagos, precipitação pluviométrica, variação dos níveis de água e variação dos volumes de água. A batimetria no lago Água Preta foi realizada para obter dados atuais de profundidades médias. Aos resultados foi aplicado um tratamento estatístico a fim de avaliar as relações entre os parâmetros estudados. Os parâmetros turbidez, cor aparente e sólidos suspensos tiveram concentrações mais elevadas no período de menor precipitação pluviométrica e apresentaram valore variando entre 4 e 59 UNT; 15 a 550 mg L¯¹ Pt Co e 1 a 57 mg L¯¹, respectivamente. A condutividade elétrica mostrou distribuição semelhante à dos parâmetros físicos analisados, com maiores concentrações no período de menor precipitação pluviométrica, e variou de 35,40 µ S/cm¯¹ a 149,70 µ S/cm¯¹. Os nutrientes estudados (nitrato, N-amoniacal e fosfato) apresentaram valores máximos de 1,4 mg L¯¹ 1,34 mg¯¹ e 1,6 mg L¯¹., respectivamente.

Most pear (Pyrus communis L.) cultivars are impaired to set fruit under self-pollination, because self-fertilization is prevented by a gametophytic self-incompatibility system. However, accumulated information in this species shows that often for a same cultivar, after self-pollination, a variable response in fruit set can be obtained in different years or growing conditions. In this work, we characterize self-incompatibility and self-fruitfulness in 'Agua de Aranjuez', the main Spanish pear cultivar, which also shows a variable response to self-pollination. Two years with a different fruit setting response after self-pollination, one with no fruit set and the other with a moderate fruit set, were compared for parthenocarpic fruit development and for pollen tube performance. Results show that in both years, this cultivar behaves as self-incompatible with absence of parthenocarpy. In selfed flowers, most pollen tubes are arrested in the upper half of the style, although in a small proportion of the styles, a pollen tube can reach the base of the style and eventually effect fertilization. Self-fertilization, although occurring at a low level, can explain the fruit set levels obtained under self-pollination given that flowers with just one fertilized ovule are able to set fruit. This behavior could explain confusing results about self-fruitfulness in 'Agua de Aranjuez' and other pear cultivars.

O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a perda de carga em tubulações comerciais de aço zincado, ferro galvanizado e PVC, com diferentes diâmetros, com o intuito de determinar fatores de correção para a equação de Hazen-Williams em função da concentração de sólidos totais, em águas residuárias oriundas da suinocultura. Os resultados mostraram que a perda de carga possui comportamento linear em função da concentração de sólidos totais da água residuária proveniente da suinocultura; as perdas de carga determinadas a partir dos fatores de correção parcial e global, apresentaram superestimativa e subestimativa média de 0,7 e 13%, respectivamente. | The objective of this study was to evaluate the head losses in commercial tubes of zinc, galvanized iron and PVC, with different diameters, aiming to determinate correction factors for Hazen-Willams equation as a function of total solids in swine wastewater. The results showed that the head loss has a linear relation with the total solids of swine wastewater; the head losses estimated by partial and global correction factors showed mean overestimate and underestimate of 0.7 and 13%, respectively.

Determinação da curva de retenção; Coleta da amostra; Preparo da amostra; Saturação das amostras e membranas porosas; Introdução das amostras na câmara de pressão; Determinação da densidade aparente e do peso seco da amostra; Cálculos para determinação do conteúdo de água no solo; Obtenção da curva de retenção de água no solo. Equipe Técnica: Aderson Soares de Andrade Júnior, Edson Alves Bastos, Rafael Maschio e Everaldo Moreira da Silva.

Se construyó un prototipo de concentrador lineal Fresnel de 8 m² para la generación directa de vapor de agua. El sistema está formado por 8 espejos de eje horizontal y un absorbedor con concentrador secundario a 4 m de altura. Se realizaron estudios geométricos para la determinación de la configuración del sistema, la curvatura de los espejos y el diseño del absorbedor. Se desarrolló un método de sujeción de espejos que permite generar la curvatura adecuada para cada concentrador. Se realizaron ensayos para la determinación de la energía térmica producida. La realización del trabajo permitió adquirir una importante experiencia y generar las bases para el desarrollo de sistemas en escalas superiores. | A linear Fresnel reflector prototype of 8 m² for direct steam generation was built. The system has 8 mirrors of horizontal axis and a 4 m of height absorber with secondary concentrator. Geometric studies for the configuration of the system, the mirrors curvature and the absorber design were made. A method of mirrors subjection that allows to generate the curvature adapted for each reflector was developed. Tests for the determination of the produced thermal energy were made. The work allowed to acquire an important experience and generate the bases for the development of systems in superior scales. | Asociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES)