Diagnóstico da qualidade das águas destinadas ao abastecimento público no Município de Erechim – RS

Abstract

Ensuring access to drinking water is a global concern, since ensuring adequate conditions for human consumption is a matter of public health. Thus, the present study evaluated the water quality of two rivers and the dam responsible for public supply in a medium-sized city in southern Brazil. For this evaluation, the Water Quality Index (WQI) and heavy metal analysis were used. The samples were collected at eight sampling points over six months, totaling six collections per sampling point. The analyses were carried out in the field with the aid of a Portable Multiparameter Water Quality Meter and in the Laboratories of the Federal University of the Southern Border, Erechim Campus, RS, Brazil. The IQA results classify all points as good, fair and poor water quality. Parameters such as dissolved oxygen (DO), thermotolerant coliforms, ammonia nitrogen and phosphorus were the ones that most appeared in non-compliance with current legislation, in addition to mercury that was detected at high levels at all points. The water quality in the dam was lower than the other points analyzed, as well as one of the springs, where low DO values and recurrent presence of thermotolerant coliforms were detected. Thus, the results found in the research raise a concern about the quality of the water distributed in the municipality of Erechim (RS, Brazil), since the treatment applied by the company responsible is conventional and, in some cases, Ammonia Nitrogen and Thermotolerant Coliforms were found, indicating that it would be interesting to apply advanced treatment.