Water quality indexes in the urban stretch of the River Apodi-Mossoró in Mossoró RN Brazil

• Published in: Semina. Ciências agrárias : revista cultural e científica da Universidade Estadual de Londrina Vol. 34; no. 6Supl1; pp. 3443 - 3454
• Main Authors: Joel Medeiros Bezerra, Paulo Cesar Moura da Silva, Rafael Oliveira Batista, Carlos Henrique Catunda Pinto, Alex Pinheiro Feitosa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Universidade Estadual de Londrina 01-12-2013
• Subjects: Water body; Pollution by humans; Environmental management
• ISSN: 1676-546X; 1679-0359
• DOI: 10.5433/1679-0359.2013v34n6Supl1p3443

Water is a basic natural resource for the maintenance of life and is indispensable in all human activities. Since it is a limited natural resource, concern on the conservation of its quality is high, coupled with efficacious mechanisms that may diminish negative environmental impacts. Current analysis applies the Water Quality Index (WQI) for hydraulic barriers in the urban stretch of Mossoró RN Brazil and verifies the water body conditions according to usage classes, with special reference to predominant factors and previous classification of the water body. Collection of water for analysis of WQI parameters was undertaken in July 2010 in three barriers within the urban stretch and geo-referenced for the indication of critical sites. Possible exploratory activities linked to the contamination of the water body were listed. An evaluation of rates was undertaken and compared with current legislation guidelines. According to CONAMA n. 357/2005, results showed that analyses during the dry period referred to the salinity of the water body when related to preponderant usage indexes, or Class 1. Total phosphorus failed to comply with rates when parameters were analyzed one by one and compared to standards established by CONAMA n. 357/2005. Water was of good quality at the first barrier and fair in the others from the entrance of the city and downstream, due to the great load of home effluents, agro-industrial wastes and surface runoff.