Assessment of Water Quality and Presence of Enterobacteria in the Billings-Tamanduateí Watershed and Its Relationship with Social Indicators

Water quality in urban streams is closely linked to socioeconomic conditions, particularly in densely populated and poorly sanitized areas. This study evaluates the physicochemical and microbiological quality of water in the Billings-Tamanduateí sub-basin and investigates its correlation with social...

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Main Authors: Beatriz Guedes-Pereira, Romeu Randefran Souza Dantas, Juliana Mendonça Silva de Jesus, Isabela Gagliardi Ortiz, Gabrielle Segatti Soares Almeida, Rodrigo de Freitas Bueno, Luís César Schiesari, Ricardo Hideo Taniwaki
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Limnological Review
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2300-7575/25/2/21
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author Beatriz Guedes-Pereira
Romeu Randefran Souza Dantas
Juliana Mendonça Silva de Jesus
Isabela Gagliardi Ortiz
Gabrielle Segatti Soares Almeida
Rodrigo de Freitas Bueno
Luís César Schiesari
Ricardo Hideo Taniwaki
author_facet Beatriz Guedes-Pereira
Romeu Randefran Souza Dantas
Juliana Mendonça Silva de Jesus
Isabela Gagliardi Ortiz
Gabrielle Segatti Soares Almeida
Rodrigo de Freitas Bueno
Luís César Schiesari
Ricardo Hideo Taniwaki
author_sort Beatriz Guedes-Pereira
collection DOAJ
description Water quality in urban streams is closely linked to socioeconomic conditions, particularly in densely populated and poorly sanitized areas. This study evaluates the physicochemical and microbiological quality of water in the Billings-Tamanduateí sub-basin and investigates its correlation with social indicators such as population density, informal settlements, and lack of sewage treatment. Water samples were collected from 14 sub-basins, analyzing parameters, including dissolved organic and inorganic carbon, total dissolved nitrogen, pH, dissolved oxygen, oxidation-reduction potential, conductivity, and the presence of enterobacteria (<i>Escherichia coli</i>, <i>Enterococcus</i>, and <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>). Statistical analyses revealed strong associations between water quality degradation and increased population density, lack of sanitation, and lower per capita income. The findings reinforce that socially vulnerable areas are the most affected, with higher levels of organic and microbiological contamination. Despite improvements in sewage collection over time, gaps in wastewater management persist, even in major metropolitan areas such as São Paulo. Future studies could expand the analysis to include less vulnerable regions for comparison and explore the impacts of climate change on urban stream water quality. The results highlight the urgent need for improved sanitation infrastructure and policies to mitigate contamination and protect public health.
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series Limnological Review
spelling doaj-art-ff943dd806d14e06a82e2ae79b7a057d2025-08-20T03:27:30ZengMDPI AGLimnological Review2300-75752025-05-012522110.3390/limnolrev25020021Assessment of Water Quality and Presence of Enterobacteria in the Billings-Tamanduateí Watershed and Its Relationship with Social IndicatorsBeatriz Guedes-Pereira0Romeu Randefran Souza Dantas1Juliana Mendonça Silva de Jesus2Isabela Gagliardi Ortiz3Gabrielle Segatti Soares Almeida4Rodrigo de Freitas Bueno5Luís César Schiesari6Ricardo Hideo Taniwaki7Center for Engineering, Modeling and Applied Social Sciences, Federal University of ABC (UFABC), Av. dos Estados, 5001, B. Santa Terezinha, Santo André 09280-560, SP, BrazilCenter for Engineering, Modeling and Applied Social Sciences, Federal University of ABC (UFABC), Av. dos Estados, 5001, B. Santa Terezinha, Santo André 09280-560, SP, BrazilCenter for Engineering, Modeling and Applied Social Sciences, Federal University of ABC (UFABC), Av. dos Estados, 5001, B. Santa Terezinha, Santo André 09280-560, SP, BrazilCenter for Engineering, Modeling and Applied Social Sciences, Federal University of ABC (UFABC), Av. dos Estados, 5001, B. Santa Terezinha, Santo André 09280-560, SP, BrazilCenter for Engineering, Modeling and Applied Social Sciences, Federal University of ABC (UFABC), Av. dos Estados, 5001, B. Santa Terezinha, Santo André 09280-560, SP, BrazilCenter for Engineering, Modeling and Applied Social Sciences, Federal University of ABC (UFABC), Av. dos Estados, 5001, B. Santa Terezinha, Santo André 09280-560, SP, BrazilSchool of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, University of São (USP), Avenida Arlindo Bétiio 1000, São Paulo 03828-000, SP, BrazilCenter for Engineering, Modeling and Applied Social Sciences, Federal University of ABC (UFABC), Av. dos Estados, 5001, B. Santa Terezinha, Santo André 09280-560, SP, BrazilWater quality in urban streams is closely linked to socioeconomic conditions, particularly in densely populated and poorly sanitized areas. This study evaluates the physicochemical and microbiological quality of water in the Billings-Tamanduateí sub-basin and investigates its correlation with social indicators such as population density, informal settlements, and lack of sewage treatment. Water samples were collected from 14 sub-basins, analyzing parameters, including dissolved organic and inorganic carbon, total dissolved nitrogen, pH, dissolved oxygen, oxidation-reduction potential, conductivity, and the presence of enterobacteria (<i>Escherichia coli</i>, <i>Enterococcus</i>, and <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>). Statistical analyses revealed strong associations between water quality degradation and increased population density, lack of sanitation, and lower per capita income. The findings reinforce that socially vulnerable areas are the most affected, with higher levels of organic and microbiological contamination. Despite improvements in sewage collection over time, gaps in wastewater management persist, even in major metropolitan areas such as São Paulo. Future studies could expand the analysis to include less vulnerable regions for comparison and explore the impacts of climate change on urban stream water quality. The results highlight the urgent need for improved sanitation infrastructure and policies to mitigate contamination and protect public health.https://www.mdpi.com/2300-7575/25/2/21urban water qualitysocioeconomic factorssewage treatmentfecal indicatorspopulation densityenvironmental pollution
spellingShingle Beatriz Guedes-Pereira
Romeu Randefran Souza Dantas
Juliana Mendonça Silva de Jesus
Isabela Gagliardi Ortiz
Gabrielle Segatti Soares Almeida
Rodrigo de Freitas Bueno
Luís César Schiesari
Ricardo Hideo Taniwaki
Assessment of Water Quality and Presence of Enterobacteria in the Billings-Tamanduateí Watershed and Its Relationship with Social Indicators
Limnological Review
urban water quality
socioeconomic factors
sewage treatment
fecal indicators
population density
environmental pollution
title Assessment of Water Quality and Presence of Enterobacteria in the Billings-Tamanduateí Watershed and Its Relationship with Social Indicators
title_full Assessment of Water Quality and Presence of Enterobacteria in the Billings-Tamanduateí Watershed and Its Relationship with Social Indicators
title_fullStr Assessment of Water Quality and Presence of Enterobacteria in the Billings-Tamanduateí Watershed and Its Relationship with Social Indicators
title_full_unstemmed Assessment of Water Quality and Presence of Enterobacteria in the Billings-Tamanduateí Watershed and Its Relationship with Social Indicators
title_short Assessment of Water Quality and Presence of Enterobacteria in the Billings-Tamanduateí Watershed and Its Relationship with Social Indicators
title_sort assessment of water quality and presence of enterobacteria in the billings tamanduatei watershed and its relationship with social indicators
topic urban water quality
socioeconomic factors
sewage treatment
fecal indicators
population density
environmental pollution
url https://www.mdpi.com/2300-7575/25/2/21
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