Indicadores ambientais como instrumento de gestão ambiental : estudo de caso - Usina Hidrelétrica Ponte de Pedra

Abstract

Environmental indicators based on water quality parameters are environmental management instruments quite used for the tracking and monitoring of various water bodies and for multiple purposes. Finding a tool that will simplify with tendency and quickness, getting answers to easy interpretation and application on a daily basis of environmental management in the various bodies of water, was the objective that motivated the development of this work. The area of the case study is the Currents River and its drainage basin, from the reservoir of the Stone Bridge. The data was obtained through the monitoring program of water quality of the reservoir of the Stone Bridge, on the border of the States of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul. For assessment of the conditions of the drainage basin of the Currents River some parameters of water quality (were used): Turbidity (UNT), true color (mgPt/L), total phosphorus (mg/L), dissolved oxygen (mg/L), total Nitrogen (mg/L), total solids (mg/L), electrical conductivity (µS/cm) and Echerichia coli (MPN/100 ml). These parameter settings were sampled over a period of 10 years, between the years 2002 to 2011. The selected parameters were evaluated in graphics, subdivided into colored bands for easy viewing and the bands defined by natural occurrence, attention and alert. In cases where the law sets limits, the limits are represented in the graphs for reference. The parameters used were analyzed in relation to the natural conditions of the River, to assess the characteristics of the drainage basin. The analysis of each parameter resulted in environmental management indicators, which associates to other management tools, will become important instruments of environmental management. This work has carried out a comparative analysis between the results obtained in the parameters analyzed in this period in the Currents River with the values defined in legislation for the rivers of class 2.