scholarly journals Use of the Water Quality Index as indicator of tourism impact management in Paraty, Rio de Janeiro/Brazil

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 466-474
Author(s):  
Estefan Monteiro da Fonseca ◽  
José Antônio Baptista Neto ◽  
Carlos Marclei Arruda Rangel ◽  
Leonardo Da Silva Lima ◽  
Priscila S de Oliveira

HighlightsTourism development on the south coast of Rio de Janeiro;Water quality impacts resulted from human presence;We selected 20 water sampling stations and evaluated the seasonal water quality variation;Water quality changes between seasons became clear;The Water Quality Index (WQI) was very useful for the classification of the waters monitored. PurposeThe main objective of the present paper is to detect the tourism influence in the water quality of the municipality of Paraty and surrounding water bodies, analyze individual parameters and use the WQI.Design/methodology/approachIn the present paper a simple management tool was applied in order to prevent future tourism impacts in coastal areas.FindingsAlthough considered in its natural state, the area already showed impact signals.Research limitations/implicationsThe analysis need to be more enhanced for finding the spatiotemporal evolution in the estuarine environment.Practical implicationsThe paper provides a starting point for minimizing the negative impacts of tourism.Originality/valueThe present paper contributes so that tourism may become a positive factor of local development. 

1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 519-550 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul A. Zandbergen ◽  
Ken J. Hall

Abstract The use of indices in ecosystem management is attractive because it allows for the representation of a complex set of information on ecosystem variables in a simple fashion. Recently the British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks developed the British Columbia Water Quality Index (BCWQI). As this index is currently being considered as the basis for other provincial indices and a national water quality index, the character of the BCWQI needs to be carefully considered. This study evaluates the performance of the BCWQI and assesses how useful and appropriate it is as a management tool at the watershed level. For this purpose the index is used to express the results of two sampling programs, one by the British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, and the other by the Westwater Research Centre, of two relatively small watersheds in the Greater Vancouver area: the Brunette River watershed, heavily impacted by urbanization, and the Salmon River watershed on the urban-rural fringe. For both watersheds the intended use is the protection of aquatic life and only those water quality objectives are considered. The results indicate that the BCWQI is extremely sensitive to sampling design and highly dependent on the specific application of water quality objectives. A comparison is made with another type of index in widespread use in North America: the National Sanitation Foundation Water Quality Index (NSFWQI). This index appears promising for stream stewardship groups because of its simplicity and ease of use. For watershed managers, an alternative to the BCWQI is suggested, based on exceedance factors for individual objectives. This Simple Water Quality Index (SWQI) recognizes the importance of objectives that are specific to a particular water body, but overcomes some of the limitations of the BCWQI. A presentation format is suggested for objective exceedance factors, with a clear indication of exactly which objectives were included — without this, the final numerical index value is meaningless. This study suggests that the BCWQI in its current form has serious limitations for comparing water bodies and for establishing management priorities. If local watershed managers use the BCWQI in guiding efforts to protect aquatic resources, they should consider these limitations carefully.


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-130
Author(s):  
Isabella Robert Rodrigues ◽  
Mauro César Geraldes ◽  
Andréa Alves Ferreira ◽  
Marcelo Dos Santos Salomão ◽  
Sérgio Vieira Anversa

In Brazil, about 49% of the population does not have access to the sewage collection network, with the consequent direct discharge of their sewage network into water bodies. Due to this scenario, it is essential to investigate the quality of the water consumed by thousands of people along the Negro and Resende Rivers. The present study analysis the waters of the Negro and Resende rivers, located in Dois Rios River Basin, in the municipality of Duas Barras, Rio de Janeiro State (RJ, SE Brazil), based on the Water Quality Index proposed by the National Sanitation Foundation (United States). The population of the district located in the municipality of Duas Barras dumps the domestic sewage directly into the hydrographic network. The analyzed parameters were: turbidity, total solid residue, total phosphorus, total nitrogen, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), hydrogenation potential, temperature, dissolved oxygen and thermotolerant coliforms. The values obtained from the calculation of the Water Quality Index (WQI) showed a variation from 40 to 68, meaning that the quality of water vary between bad and acceptable in the study area. The samples collected in the urban area contained values for thermotolerant coliforms in disagreement with the maximum value permissible for classes 2 and 3 of fresh water by CONAMA (Conselho Nacional do Meio Ambiente; a Brazilian Council for the Environment) Resolution 357/2005. The results of the analyzes confirmed the contamination of the two rivers by the discharge of domestic effluents, showing that actions are necessary to eliminate or minimize the discharge of sewage in the surveyed water bodies, since it may cause public health risks. ResumoNo Brasil, cerca de 49% da população não possui acesso à rede de coleta de esgoto, com o consequente despejo direto da sua rede de esgotos em corpos hídricos. Diante deste cenário, torna-se indispensável investigar a qualidade da água consumida por milhares de pessoas ao longo dos rios Negro e Resende. A presente pesquisa analisou qualitativamente as águas dos rios Negro e Resende, localizados na Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio Dois Rios, no município de Duas Barras/RJ, a partir do índice de qualidade das águas proposto pela National Sanitation Foundation. A população do distrito sede do município de Duas Barras despeja o esgoto doméstico diretamente na referida rede hidrográfica. Os parâmetros analisados foram: turbidez, resíduo sólido total, fósforo total, nitrogênio total, demanda bioquímica de oxigênio, potencial hidrogêniônico, temperatura, oxigênio dissolvido e coliformes termotolerantes. Os valores obtidos no cálculo do índice de qualidade das águas (IQA) mostraram uma variação de 40 a 68, significando uma qualidade da água entre ruim e razoável. As amostras coletadas na área urbana apresentaram valores para coliformes termotolerantes em desacordo com o valor máximo permitido para classes 2 e 3 de água doce, regulamentados pela Resolução CONAMA 357/2005. O resultado das análises confirmou a contaminação dos dois rios pelo lançamento de efluentes domésticos, os quais poderão originar riscos de saúde pública. Os resultado evidenciam a necessidade de se desenvolverem ações para eliminar ou minimizar os despejos de esgotos nos referidos corpos hídricos.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nelson Alakeh Mofor ◽  
Estella Buleng Tamungang Njoyim ◽  
Antoine David Mvondo-Zé

Some springs in Awing, North West Cameroon, were assessed in order to ascertain their quality for human consumption. Achialum, Meupi, and Ala’amiti quarters in Awing depend on springs as the major source of drinking water and inhabitants consume it in its natural state without prior assessment and treatment. Water samples were collected from Achialum, Meupi, and Ala’amiti and analysed for organoleptic, physicochemical, and bacteriological parameters using standard methods. Results of organoleptic and physicochemical parameters showed that most of the parameters fell below WHO limits. Water quality index results, based on physicochemical parameters only, showed that Achialum and Ala’amiti springs were of good quality while Meupi spring was of poor quality. Water quality index may not carry enough information about the real quality situation since a single bad parameter value can give misleading information about the water quality. However, the bacteriological aspect revealed the presence of faecal coliforms and pathogenic bacteria in all the springs that justified the high rate of water borne diseases recorded in the area. This poor water quality could be associated to poor hygiene and farming practices. Thus, the population of Awing should implement home water treatment methods such as boiling, filtration, or chlorination before consumption.


2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 4383-4393
Author(s):  
Osabuohien Idehen

This study takes a look into groundwater quality at Ugbor Dumpsite area using water quality index (WQI), 2-Dimensional (2-D) geophysical resistivity tomography and vertical electric sounding (VES).The geophysical resistivity methods employed revealed the depth to aquifer, the geoelectric layers being made up of lateritic topsoil, clayed sand and sand. Along the trasverse line in the third geoelectric layer of lateral distance of 76 m to 100 m is a very low resistivity of 0.9 to 13 m from a depth range o f about 3 to 25 m beneath the surface- indicating contamination. Water samples were collected and analyzed at the same site during the raining season and during the dry season. The value of water quality index during the raining season was 115.92 and during the dry season was 147.43. Since values at both seasons were more than 100, it implies that the water is contaminated to some extent and therefore poor for drinking purpose. The Water Quality Index was established from important analyses of biological and physico-chemical parameters with significant health importance. These values computed for dumpsite area at Ugbor were mostly contributed by the seasonal variations in the concentrations of some parameters, such as, conductivity, total dissolved solids, hardness, alkalinity, chlorides, nitrates, calcium,  phosphates, zinc, which showed significant differences (P<0.01 and P<0.05) in seasonal variation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 627
Author(s):  
Muhammad Ramdhan ◽  
Suria Darma Tarigan ◽  
Yuli Suharnoto ◽  
Hadi Susilo Arifin

erkembangan Kota Bogor tidak bisa dilepaskan dari keberadaan dua sungai utama yang melewatinya, yaitu Sungai Ciliwung dan Sungai Cisadane. Aktivitas penduduk di sekitar Daerah Aliran Sungai (DAS) Sungai Ciliwung dan Sungai Cisadane sangat berpengaruh terhadap kualitas air sungai, karena sebagian dari limbah buangan hasil aktivitas tersebut langsung dibuang disungai. Analisa ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui kualitas air Sungai Ciliwung dan Sungai Cisadane Kota Bogor pada tahun 2017. Data yang digunakan dari pengambilan sampel air di lapangan pada bulan Agustus di 10 titik pengamatan. Selanjutnya hasil dianalisa menggunakan Metode Water Quality Index (WQI). Parameter yang digunakan meliputi Temperatur, Total Dissolve Solid, Turbiditas, pH, DO, Nitrit, Amonia, Fosfat, Minyak dan Lemak serta Total Coliform. Parameter tersebut dianalisa secara insitu menggunakan alat portable Water Quality Checker juga melalui analisis laboratorium. dan hasilnya bahwa kualitas air yang masuk ke Kota Bogor mengalami penurunan setelah melewati area Kota Bogor.


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