Spatial Characterization of Water quality for human consumption from well in the county of Barcarena - PA

Abstract

The exploitation of groundwater in the world assumes an important role due to its low cost, but this facility makes it more vulnerable to contamination. In this context, this study characterized the physical-chemical, toxicological and microbiological aspects of 165 samples of water for human consumption from wells from different sources of supply in the county of Barcarena-PA, which is divided into two regions: Barcarena headquarters and Industrial, in the period from 2017 to 2019. A water quality index was prepared to assess the water quality standard. Total Coliform bacteria were detected in 43.64% and E. coli in 15.76% of the water samples, most of which were untreated. Considering the physical-chemical and toxicological parameters, some, such as pH and aluminum, presented average values in disagreement with Brazilian legislation. Thus, a heterogeneity of contamination was observed in the Headquarters and Industrial regions, where the first presented alteration in the physical-chemical and microbiological parameters and the second, greater amount of metals and lower pH values. As for the index, only three categories of water quality were evidenced in the municipality: low, medium and high, which were distributed differently among the studied areas, supporting that environmental contamination occurs for different causes.