Ordination and evaluation of the water quality index for the creeks Rabo de Porco and Precuá, located in the Premium I Refinery area, municipality of Bacabeira (MA), Brazil

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to assess the water quality for the creeks Rabo de Porco and Precuá, located in the area of deployment of the Premium I refinery in the municipality of Bacabeira, Maranhão, Brazil. The physico-chemical and microbiological characteristics of the water at points upstream and downstream of each water body were evaluated, comparing the results with the CONAMA Resolution 357/2005 and the water quality index (WQI). In the period from May to August 2012, monthly samples of the following physical and chemical parameters of water were made: temperature, turbidity, pH, total solids, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and fecal coliforms. The results showed significant differences in the parameters between upstream and downstream points, only for the parameters total solids and turbidity, especially for the Precuá creek. The principal component analysis revealed a moderate correlation between the parameters. The data indicated that water from most of the points can be classified in the class 3, followed by the class 2 of the CONAMA Resolution 357/2005. The WQI showed slight spatial and temporal differences between the water bodies investigated: Rabo de Porco creek registered the best WQI, while the worst one occurred in sampling at the downstream Precuá point in May. The information registered will be used as a basis for changes evaluation in characteristics and quality of water bodies studied during the deployment and operation of the enterprise.

Keywords:
CONAMA Resolution 357/2005; water quality index; creeks, Rabo de Porco, Precuá