A Panorama of Brazil’s fresh water resources
Bearing in mind that there is a certain dynamism intrinsic to rain and to bodies of water in general, the analyses that were carried out on water samples collected by the Brasil das Águas project in 2003/2004 reflect the state of that specific body of water at the precise moment at which the sample was collected.
The data obtained could indicate the permanent condition of the river or lake sampled, or of that particular stretch of water – be it polluted or not –, just as it could portray a temporary condition, such as a leakage of some product into otherwise clean water or a dilution of generally polluted water by recent rain.
Overall, however, the data provides a general indication of the state of Brazil’s fresh water resources in 2003-2004. It is relevant because it indicates trends and makes it possible to identify critical areas that require further studies. Even though only one sample of surface water was analysed per sample location, collected at a single moment on a single day, the data obtained is pertinent in view of the large number of locations sampled, the vast geographical dimensions covered and the consistence of the same methodology and equipment being used throughout the project.
The portrait of water quality as shown on the map below was derived from combinations of phosphorus (P), dissolved inorganic nitrogen (NID) and cyanobacteria. The synthesis of this data is indicative of the water purity of each of the 1,160 locations sampled by the Waters of Brazil project.
KEY
CLEAN WATERS
WATERS WITH MODERATE PROPORTIONS OF NATURALLY OCCURRING NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS
Pale blue indicates clean bodies of water, where there has been no undesirable impact affecting water usage.
WATERS THAT HAVE SUFFERED MODERATE LEVELS OF IMPACT
Water bodies showing intermediary productivity, with possible repercussions on water quality, but at acceptable levels in most cases.
IMPACTED WATERS
WATERS PREDOMINANTLY IMPACTED BY AGRICULTURE
Orange represents water bodies with a higher productivity than natural waters, have low transparency, are generally affected by anthropic activities which cause undesirable alterations to the water quality and ultimately interfere with its usage.
WATERS INDICATING HIGH LEVELS OF HUMAN IMPACT
Water bodies heavily impacted by high concentrations of organic matter and nutrients, significantly jeopardizing usage and possibly resulting in periods of mortality of the aquatic animals living in this environment.
Presence of potentially toxic cyanobacteria
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