Criteria for assessing water quality in Brazil: A Questioning about the parameters used

Abstract

The CONAMA Resolution N° 357/2005 is a regulation related to water quality, with the classification of water bodies. Water Quality Indices - WQIs are based on few parameters that establish water quality categories. Both tools have problems with monitoring, the CONAMA Resolution lists many parameters to analyze the rivers, while the WQIs do not consider the multiple uses of water and the regional characteristics of Brazil. The objective of this study is to present the water quality assessment criteria, as well as the indices used in Brazil, questioning the parameters used. It is a literature review that discusses the composition of the WQIs and the regional guidelines that use this evaluation criterion. It was possible to observe that the water quality indices in Brazil need a redirection that considers not only the regional characteristics, but also the main purposes of water use.