ANTHROPIC IMPACT AND WATER QUALITY IN THE LOWER COURSE OF THE ITAPECURU RIVER

Abstract

Since the last century, water sustainability has been a concern. Thus, recognizing the importance of the Itapecuru River for the State of Maranhão, the present work aimed to analyze the quality of the river's water using physicochemical parameters, also aiming to detect anthropic impacts resulting from local urbanization processes. The methodology used was to monitor the parameters pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, salinity, conductivity, and visible color (multiparameter) between the months of July and September 2021, a seasonal transition period in the region, at four specific points of the river's course located in the city of Codó, MA. Photographic records were made of the impacts of urbanization. All parameters showed spatial stability within the media oscillations. The parameters pH, dissolved oxygen, salinity, and conductivity all showed a slight decrease in time, while temperature values increased. All parameters presented data within the limits of the legislation, and the variance analysis revealed that there are no significant differences between the collection points.