ABSTRACT
Water, fundamental to the existence of mankind, demands the attention of competent authorities since its contamination could become a vehicle for transmission of infectious diseases. Thus the present work aimed to investigate the presence of fecal and total coliforms in water samples taken from wells, a lake and both the margin and channel of the Tiete River, Barra Bonita Dam, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil. The necessity of investigation arose by virtue of a high gastrenteritis index detected in the population that utilizes these hydric resources. The most probable number (MPN) of fecal and total coliforms was determined for 168 water samples through the method of multiple tubes. The results showed that only 42% of the samples collected in 4 wells investigated were considered of good quality for human consumption, by not presenting fecal coliforms in 100 mL of water, according to Decree Nº 518 de 25/103/2004. Regarding suitability for bathing/recreational use, according to CONAMA Resolution 357 of 17/03/2005, it was observed that in the locations investigated, only 10% of the samples analyzed were considered inappropriate for bathing and 90% of the remainder were considered satisfactory.
KEY WORDS
Fecal and total coliform; hydric resources; Tiete River