Water quality of an urban stream and the perception of the surrounding population

Abstract

Accelerated urban growth in Brazil, without adequate planning, combined with the precariousness of sanitation, are the main causes of environmental degradation, resulting in deforestation, siltation of water bodies, suppression of riparian forests, and pollution of water resources, among others. This model of occupation and transformation of Brazilian cities is also present in the urban watershed in Várzea Grande (MT). The main objective of this study was to characterize the water quality of the Manga stream, located in this city, and to correlate it with the legal standards and the perception of the residents near the stream. The studies presented were conducted in two stages, in two periods: drought (August/2022) and rain (February/2023), with water collection at five points. Interviews were conducted with the residents, indicating in the results that the local community of the watershed is low-income and has little schooling, and they are aware of the problems and the lack of execution of public policies in the neighborhood. The changes in water quality, mainly indicated by the high results of Escherichia Coli bacteria, nitrogen, and phosphorus in the water, reflect the failures of inspection, public policies, and the precariousness of sanitation, which affects the population living near the stream and violates their rights to a healthy environment.