Frederico Wagner De Azevedo Lopes,Antônio Pereira Magalhães Junior,Eduardo Von Sperling, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Geociências, fredazevedolopes@yahoo.com.br
The water use for leisure activities has always been present in human culture, especially in countries with favorable climate and wealth of water resources. However, despite the favorable outlook, there is a lack of monitoring of bathing waters conditions in Brazil. Furthermore, the current methodology provides limited indicators for assessing the quality of water for primary contact recreation. In order to improve the current methodology, this study aims to present the result of a panel of experts (Delphi) conducted to select new variables to compose an integrated index of water quality for bathing. To this end, water quality experts were invited, who were asked about inclusion and exclusion in a list with parameters previously selected. The results indicate the microbiological parameters as the most relevant to compose the index, especially E.coli.
Key-words: recreational water quality; indicators; Delphi panel.