Evaluation of balneability index data of the main beaches of the metropolitan region of Belém, Pará, Brazil in the july 2016/2021 period

Abstract

Water is a natural resource with great importance and diverse purposes of use; however, it is a limited resource. The beaches are dynamic environments, composed of sandy soils and sediment deposits caused by wave action, for this reason due to this mobility provides protection to the coast by the infl uence of waves. The beaches located in the Metropolitan Region of Belém - RMB, are considered estuarine beaches, due to the affl uence of the Guajará Bay and rivers of the Amazon. To evaluate the data of the bathing indices of the main beaches of the Metropolitan Region of Belém, PARÁ, BRAZIL in the period July 2016/2021. This is a quantitative study of descriptive analysis of data obtained from the agencies responsible for the analysis and dissemination of monitoring of the balneability of the beaches of the Metropolitan Region of Belém - RMB. An Excel table (Microsoft Excel 2016) was composed. In 2016, three beaches showed inconsistency in the results, being classifi ed as unsuitable for bathing, and these were the beaches of Baía do Sol, Amor and Cruzeiro, located respectively in the Districts of Mosqueiro, Outeiro and Icoaraci. This was the only year in which the two beaches located in the districts of Mosqueiro and Outeiro were classifi ed as unsuitable, in the period from 2016 to 2021, unlike Praia do Cruzeiro, in the District of Icoaraci, which presented problems in the years 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2020. Suggesting possible exacerbated anthropic activity at the site, improper sewage dumping or infl ow from other rivers. Urbanization, large tourist infl ux in certain months of the year, improperly dumped sewage, and rainfall may be preponderant factors in the accumulation of organic matter and reservoirs of parasites, viruses, and various enteric diseases. It can be concluded that the main beaches of the Metropolitan Region of Belém - RMB analyzed in this study, based on the data obtained by SEMMA, showed compliance with the legislation about monitoring, analysis, collection, environmental education, and dissemination of data to the population. Except for Cruzeiro Beach, in the District of Icoaraci, which showed non-compliance in the months of July in four years between 2016 and 2021.