Indicadores sentinelas para a avaliação da qualidade da água de abastecimento da cidade de Esperança-PB

Abstract

To ensure quality of water for human consumption is a quality product and satisfactory quantity deserves proper attention, because it is presumed that water has their characteristics amended since the output of the treatment until the arrival for consumers, which can pose health risks to the population. The control which belongs to the responsible of the system, and vigilance exercised by public health authority, actions are developed around the water quality for human consumption that contribute to the conformity of the water drinkability standards. This article presents a risk assessment of the quality of water distributed intermittently through the network of the City of Esperança, Paraíba state, northeast Brazil. FMEA (Failure Mode and Effect Analysis) methodology has been applied to sample sets of sentinel (residual free chlorine and turbidity), microbiological and selected ancillary quality indicators, between March and December 2013, in eight sampling points of the distribution network and in the outlet of the treatment plant. The results obtained indicate high turbidity in the treated water and low concentration of free residual chlorine. These values disagree with the law and represent a common risk throughout the system, however, a significantly lower risk when considering the associated, more evident in the distribution network microbiological indicators installments. In conclusion, the water quality in the city of Esperança, Paraíba is degraded as far from the ETA by way distribution network. Several factors may be associated this degradation as raw water quality, deficiencies in the maintenance of system units, including intermittent supply of water, which seems to be the most distinctive and relevant operational aspect to this situation.