Isolated and Cumulative Water Quality Effects of two Small Hydropower Plants of a Pantanal Tributary
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18554/rbcti.v9i2.8145Palavras-chave:
cascading hydroelectric dams, particle retention, hydraulic retention timeResumo
The construction of small hydropower plants (SHP) can cause several changes in river ecosystems, especially when designed in cascade. Thus, this study aimed to quantify the effects of two SHP operating in cascade and evaluate the individual and cumulative water quality effects on the Ponte de Pedra Stream. The study was developed at the SHP José Gelázio da Rocha and Rondonópolis, both located in Rondonópolis county, state of Mato Grosso, about 15 water quality parameters from the environmental monitoring of the power plants, collected every six months between 2006 to 2013. To evaluate water quality effect, we used the paired Wilcoxon test, and the percentage of change in relation to the natural point, upstream of the hydroelectric plants. The Wilcoxon test showed that downstream of the José Gelázio PCH there was a significant change in all five parameters, causing a 3% increase in temperature, and a 28% reduction in color, 22% in dissolved solids, 20% in total solids and 12% in suspended solids. Downstream of the Rondonópolis PCH there was a significant change in only two parameters, , reducing the temperature by 3% and increasing pH by 1.5%. Regarding the cumulative effects, the reservoirs significantly changed two parameters, causing an 18% increase in total phosphorus and a 48% reduction in total solids. These effects are associated with increased exposure of water to solar radiation and the particle retention process, due to increased hydraulic retention time in the reservoirs. The cumulative effects of the cascade system were 15% greater than the sum of the individual effects, indicating that projects in cascade tend to potentiate the isolated effects.
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