Qualidade microbiológica da água consumida em Escolas Públicas do Município de Cruz das Almas, Bahia

Abstract

Water is a resource of prime necessity and right of the citizen, its supply must be with safety and quality, devoid of diseases. Inadequate supply and/or poor management in the storage of the resource can affect its quality, resulting in damage to the health of consumers, as water can carry various pathogens. Water can carry bacteria, viruses, protozoa and helminths, causing, in many cases, diarrheal diseases with varying degrees of severity. In the school environment, the availability of water is essential for direct or indirect consumption, as students spend part of their day in this space. In addition, the consumption of poor-quality water can affect the ability to concentrate, metabolic discomfort and, consequently, the reduction of students' cognitive potential. Therefore, monitoring water quality is essential, considering that inadequate treatment and/or storage of the resource can increase the rates of diarrheal diseases, morbidity and absence of students from school activities. Therefore, the objective was to carry out a qualitative survey of the conditions of school environments and verify the presence of total coliforms (Ct) and thermotolerant coliforms (CT) in the water available for consumption in two municipal schools in Cruz das Almas, Bahia. The qualitative analysis was carried out through the application of a previously prepared questionnaire (checklist). The microbiological quality of the water supplied to schools was evaluated based on the microbiological parameters recommended in Ordinance GM/MS no 888/2021, which provides for the quality standard of water for human consumption. The collections were carried out fortnightly during the study period, with three samples collected. The samples were analyzed following the multiple tube technique. According to the results obtained, it was verified that the institutions have a deficiency in adequate sanitation services, reasonable structure and basic hygienic and sanitary failures, since in both institutions there was presence of Ct and CT in the water, which characterizes its unsuitability for use and human consumption. It is necessary to implement a system of monitoring and constant maintenance of water and drinking fountains in relation to microbiological control, to guarantee quality water to all who use the resource in these school units.