Análise das águas superficiais dos estuários da Paraíba: Diagnósticos ambientais e reflexões sobre sustentabilidade.

Abstract

Global concern is directed toward water quality, since urban development and population growth have directly influenced the increase of pollution and the degradation of natural resources such as estuaries. The estuarine system is an open environment dominated by physical, chemical, and biological processes, standing out from other coastal areas due to its high biological productivity and economic importance. This study aims to monitor the water quality of the estuaries of Paraíba, Brazil, in order to support actions for the protection and/or recovery of aquatic environments, as well as to indicate the potential risk of contamination of these important ecosystems. The research will be carried out along the entire coast of Paraíba, from the Guajú River, located in the northernmost part of the state, to the Goiana River, in the portion still within Paraíba and bordering the state of Pernambuco. Sampling for microbiological analyzes and measurements of physicochemical parameters will be conducted during both the rainy and dry seasons between 2023 and 2024. The parameters (Temperature, pH, Electrical Conductivity, Turbidity, Dissolved Oxygen, Oxygen Saturation Percentage, Total Dissolved Solids, and Salinity) will be quantified using a multiparameter probe, and samples for coliform identification will be analyzed in the laboratory using the Multiple Tube Technique and Plating. The ranking of estuaries based on identified nonconformities allowed the systems with the highest environmental risk to be hierarchized. The results are expected to confirm the existence of contamination-causing activities, when compared to the maximum values permitted by CONAMA Resolution, and to demonstrate rainfall seasonality as a factor directly related to the quality of estuarine waters. It is further concluded that seasonality, river morphology, and tidal influence are determining elements in the variation of water quality parameters, showing that the dry season represents greater criticality due to the intensification of salinization, evaporation, and salt concentration. These results reinforce the need for integrated and continuous management, capable of considering the spatiotemporal dynamics and socio-environmental vulnerability of estuaries, supporting more effective public policies such as environmental education and conservation strategies.