Drinking water quality surveillance status for Amazonas state's 62 counties

Abstract

Abstract Introduction The state of Amazonas is the largest state in Brazil and it has 62 counties, including Manaus, its capital, all of which have plenty of water resources. The control and surveillance of water quality, as well as the sewage treatment must be carried out satisfactorily in order to avoid a favorable environment for the development of pathogens that cause water related diseases. Objectives Assess the quality of the water supplied to the population of the 62 counties in the period of 2015-2019. Methods Quantitative and qualitative descriptive study, based on secondary data taken from Water Quality Surveillance Information System for Human Consumption. and analyzed from the available database at the Health Surveillance Foundation. Information was gathered on the type of collection, treatment, control, surveillance and microbiological (total coliforms and Escherichia coli). Results it was observed that 73% of the counties use underground water (well), 19% superficial (rivers) and 8% mixed combination (underground and superficial); 35% undergo chlorine treatment; less than 50%, averaging 26 counties, carry out control, surveillance and/or combined control and surveillance activities; on average: 29% have control data; 23% of surveillance and of these, 19% embody it effectively (≥ 7 months/year) and 19% of control and surveillance simultaneously. During the study, 46,670 microbiological analysis were carried out and of these 10,603 (23%) presented total coliforms and 2.265, approximately 4.9%, unsatisfactory result for human consumption due to the presence of Escherichia coli. The data demonstrate that the control and surveillance of water quality is carried out in an unsatisfactory manner, highlighting the need to strengthen the performance of the health sector and those responsible for an alternative water supply system or alternative solution in the state Amazonas. Key messages Measuring the effectiveness of surveillance actions are necessary for water quality control. Vigilance actions are important to reduce morbidity and mortality due to water transmission problems.