Quality of raw water used by communities located in the municipalities of São Vicente and Guarujá, State of São Paulo, Brazil Patrícia Schmitz, Fabrício Gandini Caldeira, Eliane Marta Quiñones Braz

Abstract

Despite being the most abundant substance on Earth, water is available in different quantities in different places. In Brazil there are conflicts related to their use, since 12% of all the fresh water in the world are present in our territory and their distribution is not homogeneous. The use of raw water is very common along the Baixada Santista, where there is a large expanse of the coastal plain with medium and high degree of biodiversity conservation and records of various neighborhoods or villages dependent isolates of water extracted directly from nature. In view of this demand, the aim of this study was to evaluate the physico-chemical and bacteriological quality of the water from springs or water spouts used by communities in their surroundings. For this raw water samples were performed in four different locations, two in the white beach (Guaruja), being the first collected in community water tank and the second obtained through hydraulic pump. The remaining samples were collected in the Japuí neighborhood and Prainha Park, both in the municipality of São Vicente, which were obtained through spout of water and underground water tank, respectively. The result of the analysis pointed verified the presence of E. coli in the samples collected in the water tanks of Prainha Park neighborhood and the white beach. In addition, Nitrate parameter values was detected above the permitted by legislation in sample of Prainha Park, indicating possible contamination with sanitary dumps. The remaining samples were within the standards, according to the Ordinance of 2.292/12 DAEE. According to the results, emphasized the importance of a continuous monitoring of raw water quality used by communities, even if these are already serviced by the public water supply system, given the preference of the majority of residents for these sources, besides the participation of the public authorities to encourage and propose mechanisms for self-management and monitoring of this action on the part of users.