Aspects that should be considered in a possible revision of the Brazilian Guideline Conama Resolution 357/05

Abstract

Guidelines are adopted to assist the processes of environmental monitoring and safeguard aquatic ecosystems. In Brazil, the Conama Resolution 357/05 (CR) is the main guideline ruling, such a normative mechanism is an instrument of the National Water Resources Policy. However, the CR does not consider specific ecological aspects and just imposes generalist standards for all country. We propose a list of the main elements that should be considered in a possible CR review according to the literature with the intent to assist the decision-makers during the revision process. Aspects involving ecoregions; biotic communities; organic substances; ammonia behavior; permissiveness related to some limnological variables and water class; pesticides; electrical conductivity; temperature; true color; general values from other countries and emergent micropollutants are proposed. CR is an extremely useful instrument in the Brazilian scenario, however, its revision and incorporation of the mentioned aspects will contribute to the elaboration of intervention measures and monitoring of national aquatic ecosystems.