Evaluation of the water quality of the maceió stream estuary

Water quality monitoring is an important tool to recognize the potential and deficiencies of the aquatic environments supporting capacity. The objective of this study was to monitor the water quality of the Maceió Stream estuary, located on the coast of Fortaleza-CE. Were evaluated the following parameters: Temperature, pH, Dissolved Oxygen, Biochemical Oxygen Demand, Nitrate, Total Phosphorus, Total Solids and Turbidity. The laboratory analyzes were followed as proposed in Standard Methods (APHA, 2001), with the exception of nitrate parameter, evaluated by the UV Method. Friedman's non-parametric statistical analyzes and the Spearman Correlation Matrix were also applied. The parameters that presented the worst scenarios were: DO, BOD and TP. Seasonality has shown important influence under the dynamics of monitored quality indicators. Statistical correlations allowed the recognition of influence factors on water quality and enhanced the dynamics of lotic environments. There was no significant variation between the concentration values of the parameters, according to Friedman's test. The Maceió Stream estuary presents a visible environment of water quality degradation, such as: proliferation of macrophytic algae in the water mirror, silting, deposition of solid waste, fish mortality, among other factors, which require effective mitigation actions.