Dissolved oxigen (DO), biochemical oxigen demand (BOD) and chemical oxigen demand (COD) as pollution parameters in the Lavapés/Botucatu - SP brook

Abstract

To evaluate the depuration capacity of the Lavapés brook, which crosses Botucatu - SP, it was used dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) as pollution parameters. The organic pollution profile was evaluated, the depuration zone identified and hourly 24-hour collection made, the last making it possible to correlate the organic pollution with household chores. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) showed itself to be the best technique to evaluate the organic pollution profile, to identify the depuration zones and to evaluate the organic pollution punctually in this water course. Characterizing a biodegradable sewage and indicating there that is no practical addition of industrial effluents, the average relation COD/BOD was 3.4, thus making it possible to estimate the BOD by the COD. At the clean water sections, source and mouth, where de COD was below 5 mgL-1 O2it was used the consumed oxygen values (permanganate method), which did not invalidate the depuration zones identification. However, it is necessary researches to develop the method dichromate for low levels (below 5 mg L-1) in order to evaluate the water stream recuperation better.