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This investigation was carried out within the Paraná sedimentary basin and neighbourhood in Brazil and involved the sampling of different water types with the purpose of evaluating its quality. Several methods were utilized for acquiring the hydrochemical data and a novel technique has been developed for evaluating the gross alpha and beta radioactivities in water, through a combined gamma-alpha spectrometry technique. The results obtained for the analyzed samples were compared with the guideline values established by the São Paulo State and Brazilian Health Ministry legislations for defining potable water standards and for the prevention and control of pollution in the environment. The hydrochemical data allowed evaluation of diverse problems related to the interaction between society and the environment such as sugarcane production and the releases associated with gas stations suppliers. The geogenic input of sulfate in groundwater was also identified. The established radiometric technique was properly calibrated and successfully applied to the analysis of different water types utilized for human consumption.

This investigation was carried out within the Paraná sedimentary basin in São Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul States, Brazil, and involved the sampling of different spring water samples with the purpose of evaluating their quality for bottling. Several methods were utilized for acquiring the hydrochemical data, such as methyl orange end-point titration, potentiometry, ion selective electrodes, spectrophotometry, atomic absorption spectrophotometry and inductively coupled plasma spectrometry. The results obtained for the analyzed samples were compared with the guideline values established by the São Paulo State and Brazilian Health Ministry legislations for defining the potable water standards. The Brazilian Code for Mineral Waters that was established by Register 7841 published on 8 August 1945 was also taken into account for verifying if the spring waters are mineralized. The hydrochemical data allowed the identification of anthropogenic and geogenic inputs of some constituents in most of the samples, which affected the water quality and did not allow them to be utilized for commercial purposes (bottling). The waters of these springs can only become appropriate for human consumption after previous chemical treatment.

This investigation was carried out within the Paraná sedimentary basin, Brazil, and involved the sampling of sludge and residuary waters that were collected from reservoirs/decantation ponds settled in two tanneries situated at Patrocínio Paulista, São Paulo State. Two samples from each tannery were collected, stored in appropriate flasks and transported to the LABIDRO for chemical analysis. The results confirmed that leather production is an activity with high environmental impact, despite improvements that may be achieved by tanneries.