IWRA Proceedings

ABSTRACT

Population growth has led to increased demand for water for various uses, increasing consumption, and consequently greater exploitation of water resources, which in addition to quantitative losses has compromised the quality associated with increased activity whose release of domestic sewage and industrial effluent in nature. The contamination of reservoirs for human water supply by organic waste from human activities lead to risk factors for health, especially in areas with inadequate sanitation and water supply, for some regions with large urban concentrations. The release of sewage on aquatic ecosystems accelerates the process of eutrophication due to increased concentrations of nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen, resulting in algal blooms in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. The River is a tributary of Tapacurá Capibaribe River and supplies the largest dam in the Metropolitan Region of Recife (RMR). The Tapacurá River basin, has twelve sub-basins were formed by the main streams Itapessirica, Natuba, Gameleira and Várzea do Una. Supplies the cities of São Lourenço da Mata, Camaragibe and South Zone of Recife. It has a capacity of 94.200.000 m³ of accumulation and is the most important water source for public supply of RMR contributing over 25% of water consumed. Of the six counties that are inserted in the basin have only three sewage treatment of wastewater. Identified that the river basin is highly polluted Tapacurá therefore has no sewage system needed to meet the general population. And because of the lack of benefit is going to the proliferation of cyanobacteria and the production of cyanotoxins. The genera of cyanobacteria were found in the reservoir and Cylindrospermopsis Geitherinema found in 67% of the months monitored, the genus Microcystis appeared in only 25% of the months monitored. And the genera Cylindrospermopsis and Microcystis are responsible for producing toxins that are harmful to health.

Keywords: Tapacurá, eutrophication, cyanobacteria