Avaliação da potabilidade da água para o consumo humano nas creches da rede municipal de Santa Inês – MA

Abstract

Water is vital for life and the development of societies, but when contaminated, it can transmit diseases. Drinking water standards ensure safety for consumption, especially for children under five years old. The field research aimed to analyze the microbiological and physicochemical quality of the water intended for the consumption of children and professionals using the daycare centers of the municipal education network of Santa Inês – MA (Brazil). Initially, a survey of the institutions was conducted, followed by a request for authorization from the Department of Education. Then, lectures were given and educational booklets were distributed about the importance of drinking potable water. Water samples were collected at two moments: before and after the intervention in the daycare centers. The collection was carried out aseptically, and the samples were sent to laboratories for microbiological and physicochemical analyses. The results were used to guide the improvement of water quality in the daycare centers, with reports provided to the sanitary surveillance and directors. The research was based on the methods and parameters of Ordinance No. 5/17 of the Ministry of Health, ensuring the reliability of the data obtained. The results of the analyses of the water from the municipal daycare centers revealed important information about its quality. All samples showed the presence of total coliforms and Escherichia coli, indicating fecal contamination, which classified them as unfit for human consumption. However, the physicochemical parameters, including chloride, color, iron, fluoride, nitrate, nitrite, pH, sulfate, and turbidity, were mostly satisfactory, with the exception of free residual chlorine, which was below the level recommended by Ordinance No. 5/2017 of the Ministry of Health. The absence of chlorine compromised the microbiological safety of the water. After the first analysis, a meeting was held with managers to implement corrective measures such as the use of hypochlorite and the replacement of filters. The second collection, scheduled to verify the effectiveness of these interventions, focused on microbiological parameters and free residual chlorine, essential to ensure the potability of the water. The analysis of the water quality in the municipal daycare centers of Santa Inês – MA showed that although most of the physicochemical parameters were within legal limits, the water presented failures in microbiological control, with the presence of coliforms and E. coli. Corrective measures, such as filter replacement, improved quality, but the lack of free residual chlorine rendered the water unfit for consumption. The study highlights the urgency to improve water treatment and monitoring to ensure potability and public health.