284
J. F. Guidolini et al.
was of R$ 161,482.10. These expenditures could have been avoided by investing in
sanitation service infrastructure, quality, universalization, and fairness (SIAB 2013).
Finally, the environmental subsystem was represented by the main water quality parameters. The environmental subsystem at GD1 highlighted indicators ENV2
(Total Coliforms), ENV4 (Total Phosphorus) and ENV5 (Nitrate) as presenting lower
entropy and higher information weights. GD8 highlighted the AMB1 (Dissolved
Oxygen) and AMB2 (Total Coliforms) indicators as presenting lower entropies and
higher information weights. In general, water quality parameters were within the
limits established by current Brazilian state and federal legislations, namely Joint
Legislative Resolution COPAM/CERH-MG nº. 1 of May 1st 2008, and Conama
Resolution nº. 357, dated March 17th 2005, which provide water body classifications and environmental guidelines for their setting and establish the conditions and
standards for effluent discharges and other measures.
However, high concentrations of total coliforms were observed for both GD1
(18612 NMP/100 mL) and GD8 (49147 NMP/100 mL) from 2012 to 2014, with the
limit being up to 5000 NMP/100 mL. Considering the significant number of families
that defecate in the open air, high total coliform values were expected. Bacteria from
the coliform group are present in the gut of warm-blooded animals and humans, and
are eliminated in high numbers in feces (10
6 g/ 10
8 g). The coliform group includes
bacteria that are not exclusively fecal and can occur naturally in soil, water and plants.
In addition, coliforms display the capacity to multiply in water, especially in tropical
climates (OMS 1995).
Although the ENV4 and ENV5 indicators were within the allowed limits at GD1
throughout the analyzed period, attention must be paid to the fact that these indicators
tend to increase over time and can cause water eutrophication, as well as undermine
population health.
At GD8, the ENV4 indicator was above the limit established in the legislation (up
to 0.05 mg/L in lotic environments) (COPAM 2008), reaching 0.45 mg/L from 2012
to 2014 at GD8. In addition, it is necessary to take into account the low dissolved
oxygen value (6.12 mg/L) and high biochemical oxygen demand (3.72 mg/L) and
ammoniacal nitrogen (1.62 mg/L) values at GD8. The statutory limits for these
parameters are ≥6 mg/L (CONAMA 2005), up to 5 mg/L and up to 3.7 mg/L,
respectively.
In view of this, the economic and environmental subsystems presented the highest
information weights, as they relate to (1) access to sanitation services and the quality
of life of the population and (2) environmental quality, especially water quality,
which directly affects public health. Thus, the results for the social subsystem in this
study reflect the impacts of economic development and environmental quality on
the local populations. In addition, the imbalance between the social, economic and
environmental subsystems within and between the assessed water management units
was also evidenced.
When analyzing the data collected by the entropic weight method, the low sustainability stages of GD1 and GD8 sanitary conditions were expected and emphasize
the need for attention to this sector.
J. F. Guidolini et al.
was of R$ 161,482.10. These expenditures could have been avoided by investing in
sanitation service infrastructure, quality, universalization, and fairness (SIAB 2013).
Finally, the environmental subsystem was represented by the main water quality parameters. The environmental subsystem at GD1 highlighted indicators ENV2
(Total Coliforms), ENV4 (Total Phosphorus) and ENV5 (Nitrate) as presenting lower
entropy and higher information weights. GD8 highlighted the AMB1 (Dissolved
Oxygen) and AMB2 (Total Coliforms) indicators as presenting lower entropies and
higher information weights. In general, water quality parameters were within the
limits established by current Brazilian state and federal legislations, namely Joint
Legislative Resolution COPAM/CERH-MG nº. 1 of May 1st 2008, and Conama
Resolution nº. 357, dated March 17th 2005, which provide water body classifications and environmental guidelines for their setting and establish the conditions and
standards for effluent discharges and other measures.
However, high concentrations of total coliforms were observed for both GD1
(18612 NMP/100 mL) and GD8 (49147 NMP/100 mL) from 2012 to 2014, with the
limit being up to 5000 NMP/100 mL. Considering the significant number of families
that defecate in the open air, high total coliform values were expected. Bacteria from
the coliform group are present in the gut of warm-blooded animals and humans, and
are eliminated in high numbers in feces (10
6 g/ 10
8 g). The coliform group includes
bacteria that are not exclusively fecal and can occur naturally in soil, water and plants.
In addition, coliforms display the capacity to multiply in water, especially in tropical
climates (OMS 1995).
Although the ENV4 and ENV5 indicators were within the allowed limits at GD1
throughout the analyzed period, attention must be paid to the fact that these indicators
tend to increase over time and can cause water eutrophication, as well as undermine
population health.
At GD8, the ENV4 indicator was above the limit established in the legislation (up
to 0.05 mg/L in lotic environments) (COPAM 2008), reaching 0.45 mg/L from 2012
to 2014 at GD8. In addition, it is necessary to take into account the low dissolved
oxygen value (6.12 mg/L) and high biochemical oxygen demand (3.72 mg/L) and
ammoniacal nitrogen (1.62 mg/L) values at GD8. The statutory limits for these
parameters are ≥6 mg/L (CONAMA 2005), up to 5 mg/L and up to 3.7 mg/L,
respectively.
In view of this, the economic and environmental subsystems presented the highest
information weights, as they relate to (1) access to sanitation services and the quality
of life of the population and (2) environmental quality, especially water quality,
which directly affects public health. Thus, the results for the social subsystem in this
study reflect the impacts of economic development and environmental quality on
the local populations. In addition, the imbalance between the social, economic and
environmental subsystems within and between the assessed water management units
was also evidenced.
When analyzing the data collected by the entropic weight method, the low sustainability stages of GD1 and GD8 sanitary conditions were expected and emphasize
the need for attention to this sector.