Avaliação química da qualidade da água do Ribeirão da Mata (MG)

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the water quality from Ribeirão da Mata, in the segment between the cities of Capim Branco and Matozinhos, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. Water samples were collected during the years 2011 and 2012, during the wet and dry seasons. Through colorimetric method on a spectrophotometer, it was determined the concentrations of phosphate, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, sulfate and phenol. Of all 24 tested samples, excessive values were found in one sample for ammonia, 21 for phenol, 11 for phosphate and one for nitrate. On the other hand, no analyzed sample showed elevated values for nitrite and sulfate. Phosphate levels were higher during the rainy season than during drought. Thus, the water samples collected in Ribeirão da Mata showed high values of phenol, ammonia and phosphate, which highlights the poor water quality due to pollution by domestic and industrial wastes.