ANÁLISE DA QUALIDADE DE CORPOS HÍDRICOS E A IMPORTÂNCIA DA CONSERVAÇÃO DE 3 GRUTAS DE GRANITO EM ITU/SP ANALYSIS OF THE QUALITY OF STREAM RIVERS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSERVATION OF 3 GRANITE CAVES IN ITU/SP

Abstract

ABSTRACT

 The objectives of this study were to evaluate the water quality of small watercourses in 3 granite caves in the municipality of Itu/SP (Gruta da Glória, Gruta do RiachoSubterrâneo and Gruta do Labirinto) in physical-chemical and microbiological parameters, with the purpose of making a comparison between the 3 locations. The purpose will be to discuss the impact of these human activities on the surroundings of the watercourses; the importance of the vegetation associated with the caves and the impacts of tourist visitation. The collection of samples for the research was carried out on 4 occasions in each cave, totaling 12 samples from January 2021 to May 2023. To measure physical-chemical data, a multianalysis kit and culture and incubation media for fecal and total coliforms were used. The Water Quality Assessment Guide (adapted) from the Observing the Rivers Project of the SOS Mata Atlântica Foundation and the Rapid Assessment of Habitat Diversity in Sections of River Basins protocol were used to analyze the general parameters. The results showed significant changes in the parameters of total and fecal coliforms in all samples, in relation to the recommended parameters (except for the reference area), in addition to showing the general causes of these changes, which are deforestation, cattle trampling, pastures in the surroundings and garbage disposal. 

Keywords: ranite caves; water quality; environmental conservation.