The current study monitored the water quality of a tropical reservoir (Vargem das Flores) used to supply potable water to seven cities in the metropolitan area of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, southeast Brazil.

Potential problems arising from the presence of cyanobacteria in water intended for human consumption have been reported by several researchers. Regarding water treatment plants, intact cells of cyanobacteria should be removed to avoid the release of cyanotoxins due to cell lysis. Water treatment techniques with different degrees of complexity can be employed but, whenever possible, the method of easiest installation, operation and maintenance should be selected, especially for non-industrialized countries and rural communities. In this context, research was carried out to evaluate the efficiency of slow sand filtration to treat water from Gavião reservoir in the city of Pacatuba, Ceara, Brazil, which has exhibited phytoplankton density of approximately 105 cells/mL with a prevalence of cyanobacteria representing over 90% of total cells. The results have demonstrated that slow sand filtration can be used to achieve water purification that meets federal standards. However, it was established that filtration through beds of gravel (prefilter) before the slow sand filtration is essential. The removal of phytoplankton reached values of approximately 97% and the filter run duration was more than 70 days. Furthermore, the slow sand filter was very efficient in removing total coliforms, with removal of up to 99.98%.

Ocorrência de oocistos de Cryptosporidium spp e cistos de Giardia sp e sua associação com Escherichia coli, Enterococcus spp indicadores bacteriológicos e turbidez em um reservatório tropical Occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp oocysts and Giardia sp cysts and their association with Escherichia coli , Enterococcus spp and turbidity in a tropical reservoir

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