Effects of geomorphology and land use on stream water quality in southeastern Amazonia |
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| Authors: | Hellen Kezia Silva Almada Divino Vicente Silvério Marcia Nunes Macedo Leonardo Maracahipes-Santos Elizabete Carolina Pinheiro Zaratim Karina Pinheiro Zaratim |
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| Institution: | 1. Programa de Pós-Gradua??o em Ecologia e Conserva??o (Postgraduate Programme in Ecology and Conservation), Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso - UNEMAT, Nova Xavantina, Brazil;2. Instituto de Pesquisa Ambiental da Amaz?nia, Diretoria de Ciências, Brasília, Brazil;3. Instituto de Pesquisa Ambiental da Amaz?nia, Diretoria de Ciências, Brasília, Brazil;4. Woods Hole Research Center, Amazon Program, Falmouth, MA, USA;5. Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias, Biológicas e Sociais Aplicadas, Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso - UNEMAT, Nova Xavantina, Brazil |
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| Abstract: | Water quality in streams is determined by several factors, including geology, topography, climate, and anthropogenic changes. This study aimed to assess the effects of watershed physical, morphology, and precipitation seasonality on the water quality of two streams that supply drinking water to rural settlements and urban areas in the Cerrado-Amazonia transition region. We monitored 16 physico-chemical attributes of water at six different sample locations over three years (2013–2016). Our results indicate that eight of these physico-chemical attributes did not meet the standards for safe drinking water established by Brazilian legislation. Precipitation seasonality, degradation of riparian zones, stream length, and watershed slope were the most important predictors of impaired water quality. Our results highlight the importance of restoring and conserving riparian forests in order to maintain drinking water quality. |
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| Keywords: | water conservation land use ecosystem services |
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