Water quality of Setúbal river in Jenipapo de Minas - MG after dam construction

Abstract The quality of water resources must be guaranteed. In this context, this study aimed to characterize the water quality of the river Setúbal using the Water Quality Index (WQI) and standards set by CONAMA Resolution 357/2005, after the construction of Setúbal dam in the municipality of Jenipapo de Minas - MG. For the characterization of water quality, six samples were collected bimonthly between June 2015 to June 2016 at two strategic river points and the following parameters were analyzed: hydrogen potential (pH), dissolved oxygen (DO), temperature, biochemical demand oxygen (BDO), nitrate (NO3-), phosphorus (PO4 3-), chloride, turbidity, total solids, total iron, total coliforms and Escherichia coli. The WQI was calculated using the methodology proposed by IGAM. The results showed that the construction of Setúbal dam may have influenced changes in some of the physiochemical and biological parameters of Setúbal river’s water. The medium WQI level predominated in the two sampling points, but some variables did not reflect the Class2 river category.