Águas Inseguras? Monitoramento da qualidade da água estocada em cisternas no semiárido paraibano

Abstract

<p><span class="fontstyle0">Cisterns are alternatives that guarantee access to water in a decentralized manner. They have low environment impact and are economically viable in Brazilian semiarid. This study aimed to assess water quality stored in cisterns in a rural settlement in Cubati - semiarid of Paraíba. PH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, salinity, color, turbidity, nitrogen nutrients and thermotolerant coliforms were monitored during the rainy (April and June / 2018) and dry (December / 2018) periods. The water stored in the cisterns comes from different sources between the hydrological periods, coming primarily from rainwater harvesting in the rainy season and from the supply of water trucks during the dry period. The waters, from all analyzed sources, did not present potable characteristics, presenting high values for color parameters (49.6 to 196.5 uC), turbidity (6.9 to 83.9 NTU), nitrate (2.2 10.2 mg / L), total coliforms and Escherichia coli. Thus, despite the storage of water in cisterns as a potential source of access to water for communities in the semiarid region, there is an evident need for treatment before its consumption, with rainwater harvesting being the most suitable source for more noble purposes such as drinking or cooking.</span> <br /><br /></p>