Temporal evaluation of indicators of water quality in watersheds of the Piracicaba River

Author(s)

Natássia Bonini Vidas

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Piracicaba.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC)
• Defense date: 2014-04-25

Examining board members

Plinio Barbosa de Camargo; Marcos Vinicius Folegatti; José Teixeira Filho

• Advisor: Plinio Barbosa de Camargo

Abstract

The unit of study called watershed can be considered an important agent of integration between natural and anthropogenic processes. Studying the metabolism of water bodies, it is possible to know which factors are involved in the functional changes of these processes. In this context, it is inserted the Piracicaba river basin, an authentic model of developed basin with typical environmental issues of impacted areas. Studies conducted by PiraCena Project, between 1994 and 2001, confirmed that emissions from domestic and industrial sewage and changes in land use have contributed to drastic changes in its metabolism. However, since the end of the project, funds managed by the Watershed Committee of Piracicaba, Capivari and Jundiaí Watersheds were applied, mainly in sanitation, such as collection and treatment of domestic wastewater. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the evolution of physical and chemical water parameters, during twelve months, trying to understand how the process of urbanization still affects the metabolism of the river and how the discharge of effluents from sewage treatment stations interfere in the chemical composition and the aquatic metabolism of streams that belong to the Piracicaba river basin, located in densely populated regions. The results obtained in this study were compared with previous results published by PiraCena Project, with the goal of identifying possible improvements at the water quality of these streams. It was observed from the results obtained that, despite every effort that has been made, aiming the improvement of the water quality at the water bodies of the Piracicaba river basin, the deterioration is still present. Moreover, it was possible to reinforce the results found by PiraCena project, since there was a considerable increase in the treated domestic sewage volume, but the effect of this treatment has not been significant to the quality of some streams of the basin. Therefore, the necessity of a detailed evaluation about the functioning of the sewage treatment stations is imperative, so they can continue providing the society with water of quality, while ensuring biotic integrity. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/04253-5 - Temporal assessment of indicators of water quality in the Piracicaba River watershed
• Grantee: Natassia Bonini Vidas
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master