Perspectives for review of the classification of water quality of the Benevente river basin from the use of frequency curves and water quality modeling

ABSTRACT

This study discussed the application of quality frequency curves as a tool to subsidize decisions on the classification of superficial water courses. The watershed of the Benevente River (Espírito Santo, Brazil) was the area of study. The total loads of BOD_5.20 were estimated for different control sections, considering the sanitary sewage as the only pollutant source. With the aid of the QUAL-UFMG model, the perspectives of establishment water quality classes associated with different scenarios of self-purification simulation were evaluated. The quality frequency curves for the BOD_5.20 parameter was constructed for freshwater rivers Classes 1, 2, and 3. The self-purification capacity of the Benevente River allowed a reduction of approximately 17% of the total load of BOD_5.20. Regardless of the simulation scenario evaluated, the Benevente River presented quality conditions usually closest to the standards established for Class 1. In this sense, although there is no expansion of the coverage of the sewage treatment service, the quality frequency curves for the parameter BOD_5.20 pointed out conditions for more restrictive water quality classes of the watercourses of the basin watershed of the Benevente River than that agreed in the legal classification of surface water rivers.

Keywords:
management instruments; national water resources policy; self-purification; quality standards