Water is an important natural resource for preserving the life in the planet. In this survey, it was evaluated water quality in the Vacacaí and Vacacaí-Mirim basins in Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. The water samples were evaluated for N-nitrate (N-NO3), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and sodium (Na), pH and electric conductivity (EC). The results were compared to the values suggested by the resolutions of the State Environmental Agency (Secretaria da Saúde e Meio Ambiente), the Brazilian Agencies (CONAMA e Ministério da Saúde) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The water pH varied between 5.71 and 7.5 and de EC between 33.33 and 118.88µS cm-1. For N-nitrate 100% samples were in the settled limits by environmental legislation. The P levels were between 0.00 to 0.18mg L-1. The N-ammonia levels varied between 0.02 and 0.39mg L-1, the K levels remained between 2.05 and 3.66mg L-1 and the Na levels between 1.84 and 16.8mg L-1.
hydrographic basin; nutrients; environmental contamination; sustainability
