ÍNDICE DE QUALIDADE DA ÁGUA NAS NASCENTES DO RIO PIAUITINGA-SE POR ANÁLISE MULTIVARIADA E O USO NA IRRIGAÇÃO - DOI: 10.7127/rbai.v10n600441

The headwaters are important resources that spouts on the surface of the Earth, getting crucial to the formation of the rivers. The headwater of the river Piauitinga makes one of the most important hydrographic basins to the state of Sergipe. Therefore, this study aimed to study the variation of physical and chemical characteristics of water this spring using multivariate analysis methods, using factorial analysis through the analysis techniques the main component and analysis of common factors and thus, indicate which the significant variables for their quality. The water samples were collected from the superficial layer of the water body, in the months of October 2009, February, April and August of 2010. The analyzed parameters were pH, turbidity, color, electrical conductivity, total soluble solids, hardness, nitrite and ammonia. Multivariate analysis came from a matrix of 08 x 20 (lines x columns), and the lines represent the parameters and columns observations. Thus, there is a significant correlation between pH and hardness, in other words, the increase in pH is associated with an increase of the hardness, and this can be checked for turbidity and color. Ammonia was negatively correlated with the total soluble solids and hardness, indicating that the increase causes a decrease in the other variable. The results showed three quality index factors: conductivity and hardness, color and turbidity, and total soluble solids. The sustainability of these levels should be maintained for inspection of the community and the competent bodies.