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Title: Microbiological Water Quality Assessment of Watershed Associated with Swine Production in Santa Catarina, Brazil

Author
item PALHARES, JULIO - EMBRAPA BRAZIL
item MULLER, SUSANA - EMBRAPA BRAZIL
item MATTEI, ROSEMARIE - EMBRAPA BRAZIL
item KICH, JALUSA - EMBRAPA BRAZIL
item Sigua, Gilbert

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/15/2007
Publication Date: 11/4/2007
Citation: Palhares, J., Muller, S., Mattei, R.M., Kich, J.D., Sigua, G.C. 2007. Microbiological Water Quality Assessment of Watershed Associated with Swine Production in Santa Catarina, Brazil [abstract]. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts. http://a-c-s.confex.com/crops/2007am/s11/extra/index.cgi (user name: 34252; password: 336765

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Santa Catarina State has the largest pig producers in Brazil and its West region has the highest concentration of swine production. Diagnostic assessment conducted by Embrapa Swine and Poultry Scientists in 2003 reported that more than 90% of 3,821 pig farms didn't have the required environmental license to operate. The Environmental State Promoter proposed an Adjustment Environmental Contract (AEC) to legalize these farms. Embrapa has a current project that monitors the effectiveness of AEC in terms of social, environmental and economic impacts. The aim of this research was to monitor the microbiological water quality in a sub-basin of Pinhal River characterized by farmers that signed with the AEC. The sub-basin is located in Concordia rural area. Eight sampling points along the Pinhal River were selected. Sampling and sample analyses occurred between the months of January and August. Total coliforms, fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella were analyzed from each sample. The sampling period of August to January was selected because it is the time of the year that many farmers prepare their soil to corn planting. The highest concentrations evaluated for the three coliforms microorganisms were: total coliforms, 480 UFC/ml; fecal coliforms, 200 UFC/ml and E. coli, 280 UFC/ml. Salmonella was not present in all the samples, but in monitoring points located in the lower sub-basin had higher levels of Salmonella. This microorganism could be threat to human and animal health. The AEC will continue to recommend that actions must be taken to improve the microbiological water quality of watersheds that are associated with swine production. Other results demonstrating the relationship between microbiological water quality and soil conservation, presence of riparian vegetation and use of pig waste as fertilizers will be reported.