Ciomara Rabelo De Carvalho,César Augusto Paulino Grandchamp,Jorge Milton Elian Saffar,Fabrícia Gonçalves Moreira,Henrique Trópia Granja Guerzoni, Crono Engenharia Ltda., , cronoengenharia@crono.eng.br
ABSTRACT
The USA-NSF Water Quality Index – WQI was evaluated in points of the monitoring networks operated by Vale and the State of Minas Gerais Water Management Institute – IGAM. Both networks cover the high Velhas River watershed, in the densely populated, highly industrialized, and mining intensive, Greater Belo Horizonte Area. Measurements indicate the prevalence of WQI values classified as Good, whereas no results were recorded as Excellent or Very Bad. Values classified as Medium and Bad were mostly affected by the thermotolerant coliforms counts and, in a lesser degree, by total solids and turbidity measurements. Joint analysis of the results of both networks allowed a better evaluation of the watershed water quality, as well as a better understanding of the anthropic influence.
PALAVRAS-CHAVE: IQA, Rio das Velhas, Vale