Quality of water sources used as drinking water in a Brazilian peri-urban area

Abstract

The objective of this paper was to assess bacteriological quality of drinking water in a peri-urban area located in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo, Brazil. A total of 89 water samples were collected from community plastic tanks and 177 water samples from wells were collected bimonthly, from September 2007 to November 2008, for evaluating bacteriological parameters including: Escherichia coli, Enterococcus and heterotrophic plate count (HPC). Clostridium perfringens was investigated in a subsample (40 samples from community plastic tank and 40 from wells). E. coli was present in 5 (5.6%) samples from community plastic tanks (2.0 - 5.1x10(4) MPN/100mL) and in 70 (39.5%) well samples (2.0 - 8.6x10(4) MPN/100mL). Thus, these samples were not in accordance with the Brazilian Regulation. Enterococcus was detected in 20 (22.5%) samples of the community plastic tanks (1 to 79 NC/100mL) and in 142 (80.2%) well samples (1 to >200 NC/100mL). C. perfringens was detected in 5 (12.5%) community plastic tanks samples and in 35 (87.5%) wells samples (2.2 to >16 MPN/100mL). HPC were above 500 CFU/mL in 5 (5.6%) waters from community plastic tanks. In wells samples, the HPC ranged from <1 to 1.6x10(4) CFU/mL. The residual chlorine did not attend the standard established in the drinking water legislation (0.2 mg/L), except in 20 (22.5%) samples. These results confirm the vulnerability of the water supply systems in this peri-urban area what is clearly a public health concern

Microbiological evaluation of drinking water available in schools in Cruz das Almas, Brazil

“…Assessment of water samples in plastic tanks and in wells (89 and 177) in an area within the metropolitan region of São Paulo, Brazil, revealed that enterococcus microorganisms were extant in 21 samples (23.5%) for plastic tanks and in 142 samples (80.2%) for wells, enhancing possible interventions due to fecal contamination (Razzolini et al, 2011).…”

Untitled

“…É crescente o número de surtos infecciosos transmitidos por via hídrica e de estudos reportando a presença ou traços de contaminantes e patógenos, dentre bactérias, vírus entéricos e protozoários, em águas subterrâneas urbanas e rurais. Na literatura são relatadas contaminações bacterianas por E. coli, Clostridium perfringens e Enterococcus; virais por adenovírus (AdV), enterovírus (EV), rotavírus (RV), vírus da hepatite A, norovírus, e echovírus; além de protozoários e contaminação por uso de pesticidas ou resíduos industriais (De Serres et al, 1999;Fout et al, 2003;Borchardt et al, 2007;Naik et al, 2007;Ribeiro et al, 2007;Colvara et al, 2009;Ogorzaly et al, 2010;Razzolini et al, 2011a;2011b). O consumo da água contaminada pode causar desde doenças entéricas e hepatites, até o óbito (Schijven et al, 2010;Lenaerts et al, 2008).…”

Avaliação integrada de impacto à saúde decorrente de ações de saneamento, em comunidades de unidades de conservação de uso sustentável na Amazônia

“…Como exemplo da interface entre o domínio publico e o domiciliar, o estudo realizado em área periurbana da região metropolitana de São Paulo aponta melhores indicadores de qualidade da água para consumo humano em componente público (tanques coletivos) em relação às alternativas domiciliares (poços domiciliares) (RAZZOLINI et al, 2011). No entanto, a porcentagem das amostras nos tanques coletivos em desacordo com os padrões brasileiros de potabilidade para consumo humano poderia atingir números ainda menores com intervenções educativas relacionadas a hábitos de higiene e manutenção dos tanques.…”