Caracterização dos parâmetros de qualidade da água no Distrito de Iara, Barro, Ceará.

Abstract

The research took place amid growing concerns about water management in Northeast Brazil, an area historically characterized by climate variability and the need for drought-tolerant strategies, such as the construction of dams. The main objective of this study was to analyze water quality and the dynamics of aquatic macrophytes in the Iara District, Barro, Ceará. The data analyzed, from the Ceará State Water and Sewage Company (CAGECE) for the period 2020 to 2024, revealed a complex situation. Although most physical and chemical water parameters, such as turbidity, total solids, and pH, were generally within the limits established by current legislation, significant variations in turbidity and, more worryingly, the presence of Escherichia coli were observed. These indicators point to water contamination that requires constant monitoring and effective interventions to safeguard public health and environmental integrity. One of the study's central findings was the identification of excessive growth of aquatic macrophytes in the Iara Reservoir. This phenomenon was categorized as an unequivocal symptom of eutrophication, a process of nutrient enrichment in water bodies that leads to ecological imbalance. The primary cause of this eutrophication was directly correlated with the district's lack of an adequate collective sewage system, allowing untreated effluents to be discharged into the water source. To monitor the proliferation of macrophytes and understand their spatiotemporal dynamics, the research used advanced remote sensing techniques. This technological approach has proven to be a valuable tool for environmental management, enabling the efficient observation and monitoring of large areas. The application of remote sensing reinforces the importance of water management that integrates different methodologies and technologies for a more comprehensive and proactive analysis. Based on the results, the study proposes a series of strategic recommendations. Practical objectives include universalizing basic sanitation to mitigate contamination and eutrophication, implementing a continuous macrophyte monitoring program using remote sensing, and developing environmental education programs. Such actions are crucial to ensuring water quality, the health of aquatic ecosystems, and the long-term well-being of the population of the Iara District.