Avaliação microbiológica e físico-química da água de Engenheiro Ávidos (Boqueirão) de Cajazeiras - PB.

Abstract

Water is essential and indispensable to life and important component of the balance of biological systems. The limiting effect on the quality and quantity of water in the planet are related to the increasing population growth and because of the indiscriminate use of the precious liquid and pollution and contamination of water sources by human actions. Studies monitoring, evaluation and maintenance of freshwater ecosystems are essential to good quality for human consumption and must meet the recommendations issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Brazilian agencies that establish the potability parameters that are based on determination the absence or presence of total and fecal coliforms, pH measurements, color, turbidity and other indices to ensure the limits of water quality. The city of Cajazeiras–Parayba, with an approximate population of 60,000 inhabitants, is located 485Km from the capital João Pessoa, has altitude of 293m and territorial extension 565.899Km2. Important Boqueirão district, has 3,928 inhabitants (6.7% of the population) have weir "Avidos Engineer", which is distant 15Km headquarters, the only source of water supply of the city. This study aimed to analyze the bacteriological quality, the presence / absence of Total Coliforms and Fecal Coliforms and physico-chemical parameters (to determine the parameter of pH - Hydrogen potential) to the surface and depth; turbidity and color) of water used for human consumption directly collected and the samples collected and processed in laboratories of the Teacher Formation Center of the Federal University of Campina Grande. The data revealed that the water of the weir is contaminated by total and fecal coliforms agents, presenting, in all samples analyzed 100% contamination, considered unfit for human consumption. The pH of the water, I mean, was greater than 8.5, close to the value limit of pH 9, allowed for human consumption. The color was estimated at 10,71uH, contrasting with the amount permitted maximum 15uH and turbidity, relatively high, had average index 4,75uT, being allowed 5uT. Under these conditions the main water source for human consumption of the city of Cajazeiras - Parayba, is inappropriate for human consumption, under the risks to human health.