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Direct evapotranspiration measurements are important to the calibration of indirect methods. The performance of a low cost hydraulic weighing lysimeter was evaluated, aiming to estimate the reference evapotranspiration (ETo) in a settlement area in the Semi Arid Brazilian northeast. The lysimeter presents a simplified design, with loading cells of butyl internally covered with nylon, connected to a manometric system with mercury and water. The lysimeter equilibrium was stable, with the largest positional average error of 3.93%. Calibrations produced correlation coefficients higher than 0.9993, and reading resolutions between 0.095 and 0.134 mm. Lysimeter readings were compared to ETo estimate Penman-Monteith, Blaney-Criddle FAO, Jensen-Haise, and Class A methods. Additionally, the performance of a simplified evaporimetric tank was evaluated, built with recycled material, which has been used for irrigation management in communal areas. All the considered methods produced good results, well correlated to the readings from the lysimeter, for the studied period.