Macroscopic analyses and evaluation of environmental quality in urban springs of Divinópolis-MG

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the environmental quality of the springs in the urban area of Divinópolis/MG, searching for identifying the main causes of negative impact, the level of interference and quantification of macroscopic parameter. Therefore, the environmental impact on the springs were evaluated from the interpretation of the Índice de Impacto Ambiental em Nascentes – IIAN (Index of Environmental Impact on Springs – IEIS). 22 springs were analyzed, being two of them were impossible to be evaluated due to burying. In general, the results showed that the springs found themselves in an advanced environmental degradation, being, most of them, in conservation classes as follows: “Bad” (n=12) and “very bad” (n=4). The other ones were considered “good” (n=1) and “reasonable” (n=3). None of them were considered “Great”. It was observed that the lack of protection in the springs area (n=20), the short distance from houses (n=18) and vegetation degradation (n=18) were the main checked parameters. Such results highlight the lack of environmental care and lack of inspection in these springs, making necessary a intervention in these sources, making its recovery and conservation possible.

Keywords

• Macroscopic evaluation, Environmental impact, Water sources, Environmental quality