Water quality index in the Caiçá river’s micro watershed within the urban perimeter of Simão Dias, Sergipe

Abstract

Throughout history, the cities that were more economically prosperous and that developed civilizations were those that had considerable availability of water resources and were surrounded by major rivers. However, in the present day, it reveals that many times this has become an inexhaustible source of environmental problems. In this perspective, the city of Simão Dias is an example of this reality. The urban perimeter of Simão Dias, located in the micro watershed of the river Caiçá, is responsible for domestic sewage discharge and anthropogenic pressures in water courses. On this basis, this study aimed to evaluate the water quality in the urban stretch of that watershed. The methodology used in the research was based on Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater (APHA, 2005) and the Water Quality Index (IQA) in which the sum of nine parameters result in the classification of the qualitative aspects of the resource. The results showed that the anthropogenic pressures (urbanization, abattoir presence, degradation of riparian vegetation, inappropriate land use, and disposal in domestic tributaries) exert negative influence on the Caiçá river, compromising the quality of the water body, shown by the IQA that classified the resource as bad, therefore evidencing the need for effective action regarding water management at the local level.