Analysis of water quality in Roda D’Água Brook, Uberaba River tributary, MG

Abstract

Water resources degradation reflexes the environmental crisis caused by both increased anthropic demands and population growth, which lead to changes in consumption habits, pollution generation and lack of basic sanitation. The cost to treat water for public supply and to recover water springs is high, with emphasis on the relevance of preserving and taking care of water-use procedures. The Water Quality Index (WQI), which assesses waterbodies’ contamination, is the monitoring method adopted in Brazil. The aim of the present study is to assess the quality of water in Roda D’Água Brook, Uberaba City, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, based on WQI. It was done to diagnose this brook’s environmental health. To do so, physical, chemical, and microbiological parameters were assessed. Results have shown that the WQI value recorded for the herein assessed brook is too low, and its water was classified as having very poor quality, since its WQI values were lower than 25 – this number is considered dissatisfactory. Thus, although there was no industrial waste in its water, feces discharge from livestock farms close to this waterbody can be blamed for the frame, given the presence of thermo-tolerant coliforms in the assessed water. Therefore, this water must be avoided for human consumption and for leisure activities; moreover, it is recommended to take migratory actions to reduce anthropic impacts, since the brook’s content is used by the municipal government to water plants in the city. Thus, integrating policies associated with the accountable municipal bureaus are suggested and they must aim at guiding companies and local community, based on environmental policies that exceed the simple development and monitoring of projects focused on mitigating these water-spring issues.