Análise e monitoramento da qualidade microbiológica da água do Rio Uruguai na cidade de Uruguaiana (RS)

Abstract

The Uruguay River is one of the main rivers in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, with approximately 1,770 km in length. The municipality of Uruguaiana is among the main cities in Rio Grande do Sul bathed by its waters, being used in various agricultural activities, fishing, leisure and supplying for the population. Thus, this research aimed to analyze and monitor the water quality in two different points of the Uruguay River in the city of Uruguaiana, Rio Grande do Sul, characterized by an area with a predominance of residential sewage waste and an area with a prevalence of agricultural waste, between March and July 2022. The samples were analyzed at the Microbiology Laboratory of the Federal University of Pampa, establishing the most likely number per 100 milliliters of sample, using the multiple tube technique, The results obtained were correlated to the microbiological quality standards of fresh water established by resolution number 20 of 1986 of the National Council for the Environment. According to this research, all samples were positive for total coliforms. Regarding the classification, none of the points belongs to Special Class or Class I. The waters of the Uruguay River in the points with predominance of residential and agricultural sewage can be classified as Class II. The main source of contamination of the Uruguay River is directly related to human activities. The data established by this study constitute an important source of information for the population, it may serve as a basis for carrying out actions aimed at preserving the Uruguay River and for future comparative studies.