Proposal for a Water Quality Index for Supplying Rural Communities in the Brazilian Federal District
2025
Eduardo C. Oliveira-Filho | Daphne H. F. Muniz | Elizabeth C. M. Gonçalves | Juaci V. Malaquias
The environmental characterization of a given region is fundamental for decision-making by public administrators and, consequently, for sustainable development. Regarding water quality, establishing the use of this resource is a priority, as specific parameters must be defined for each type of usage, to determine water quality in that region. The objective of this study was to propose a water quality index for supplying rural communities, given that the most commonly used indices relate to urban water after treatment. To construct the index, water samples were collected over 12 months from 29 sampling points across seven rural centers without the governmental service of treated water. Principal component analysis was used to identify the most representative parameters, and final weights were assigned considering Brazilian regulatory standards. The results obtained revealed a very simplified index with five variables and five usage classes, with scores ranging from simplified to advanced treatment. It is hoped that the proposed index will better guide rural communities and generate improved policies for water resource management in the Brazilian Federal District and support public policy development in rural areas with limited water treatment infrastructure.
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