Water quality variables and emerging environmental contaminant in water for human consumption in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Abstract

This research aimed to qualify and quantify physical, chemical, microbiological and emerging environmental contaminants, pharmaceuticals and pesticides in spring waters, which are used for human consumption under different land use and occupation conditions. These conditions were: native forests and swine farming, as well as soy and tobacco crops in two consecutive seasons. Due to the microbiological variables and the pH and apparent color, the spring water studied is not potable, as it does not comply with the legislation due to the contribution of the total coliforms found in the native forest springs. Pharmaceuticals and pesticides were found in the land use and occupation conditions under study, which shows that land uses do not interfere with emerging environmental contaminant variables.

Keywords

• Pesticides
• Pharmaceuticals
• Spring water
• Potability