Using the pollutant load concept to assess water quality in an urban river: the case of Carahá River (Lages, Brazil)

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the water quality of Carahá River in Lages (Brazil), using the concept of pollutant load and comparing the results with the water quality index. Thirteen points along the river were selected and eight collections were carried out over a period of 16 months. The parameters analysed were those required for the calculation of the water quality index (WQI). Flow measurements were also carried out, which enabled the calculation of the polluting load. The results showed that the WQI score ranges between 24.95 at the source and peaks at 40 at the outlet. The water classification, therefore, ranges from “very bad” to “bad”. The calculation of the pollutant load showed a constant disposal of contaminants into the river, which demonstrates that the quality of the water is continuously degraded. This information could not be obtained by analysing only the WQI, which presented a nearly constant quality at point 4 and beyond. The use of the calculation of pollutant load for Carahá River is, therefore, a tool for assessment of pollution that can provide more appropriate information for the water resources management.

Investigating the diversity of fish parasites in the floodplain of the upper Paraná River: a long-term ecological monitoring

“…Anthropogenic environmental impacts also modify the ichthyofauna (Audry et al, 2004;Quinatto et al, 2018), among them the damming of rivers and construction of hydroelectric plants promote changes in lotic to lentic environments and consequent reduction in fish diversity (Agostinho et al, 2008;Agostinho et al, 2016), moreover, occur simultaneously, introduction and establishment of non-native species (Vitule et al, 2009, Garcia et al, 2019. In the upper Paraná River floodplain, 36% of the records on ichthyofauna are with non-native species (Figure 7A) following with similar proportions, 43% of the studies on ichthyoparasitology (Figure 7B).…”

Avaliação de metais pesados e poluentes ambientais no Rio do Sal (Nossa Senhora do Socorro - SE) e seu impacto na saúde humana

“…Um estudo realizado por Souza 20 e analisado por Quinatto et al 21 avaliou a qualidade das águas do Rio do Sal através da análise de diversos parâmetros, criando um modelo empírico para o monitoramento de recursos hídricos. Os parâmetros avaliados foram Turbidez, Oxigênio dissolvido, pH, coliformes fecais, Residual total e Demanda Biológica de Oxigênio.…”

“…Observando os resultados obtidos e relacionando -os com esta pesquisa, observa-se que o Rio do Sal não teve nenhum tratamento eficaz de descontaminação de suas águas desde 2003 até a realização do presente trabalho em 2011, o qual mostra que o mesmo ain-da permanece contaminado. Dessa forma, torna-se necessário um plano de gestão de controle de suas águas no intuito de torná-las viáveis para o consumo humano e abastecimento da população dependente deste recurso 21 .…”

Water quality and prospects for revitalization of an urban stream in Recife, Brazil

“…Dalma et al (2015) also found low IQA values in the Embu-guaçu River, metropolitan region of São Paulo. The WQI proved to be a good tool for assessing water quality since it was possible to find the interactions between the parameters in a spatial and temporal distribution as Quinatto et al (2019) and Vieira et al (2019) recommend.…”