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Challenges for contact recreation in a tropical urban lake: assessment by a water quality index

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  • Frederico Azevedo Lopes

    (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais - UFMG)

  • Rob Davies-Colley

    (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd – NIWA)

  • Júlia Piazi

    (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais - UFMG)

  • Juliana Souza Silveira

    (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais - UFMG)

  • Andrea Coelho Leite

    (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais - UFMG)

  • Natália Isabel Azevedo Lopes

    (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais - UFMG)

Abstract

Water pollution control is challenging in catchments affected by ‘informal’ urban development. Lake Pampulha, an impoundment that is a major tourist focus within the municipality of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais state, Brazil, provides an example of degradation of aquatic environments by disorganised urbanization. We evaluated the current recreational suitability of the lake using state government monitoring data (2012-2017) with reference to Brazilian legislation and a water quality index for contact recreation in Brazilian freshwaters, considering E. coli (indicating faecal pollution and microbial hazards), cyanobacterial density (health risks and aesthetic quality), turbidity (aesthetics and safety associated with visual clarity), and pH (safety and eye-comfort). Our results show that, despite investments in pollution control, the recreational water quality of Lake Pampulha remains very poor. Contact recreation was most limited by persistent cyanobacterial blooms, but also faecal contamination and low visual water clarity. The effects of high phosphorus loading and faecal contamination from unsewered domestic wastewater is exacerbated by a tropical climate, promoting stable thermal stratification (favouring cyanobacterial dominance) and turbid wet-season runoff. Water quality indexing is a powerful tool not just for interpreting and communicating multiple metrics affecting water resources, but also for guiding rehabilitation efforts and tracking progress.

Suggested Citation

  • Frederico Azevedo Lopes & Rob Davies-Colley & Júlia Piazi & Juliana Souza Silveira & Andrea Coelho Leite & Natália Isabel Azevedo Lopes, 2020. "Challenges for contact recreation in a tropical urban lake: assessment by a water quality index," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(6), pages 5409-5423, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:22:y:2020:i:6:d:10.1007_s10668-019-00430-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s10668-019-00430-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Leggett, Christopher G. & Bockstael, Nancy E., 2000. "Evidence of the Effects of Water Quality on Residential Land Prices," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 39(2), pages 121-144, March.
    2. S. H. A. Koop & C. J. Leeuwen, 2017. "The challenges of water, waste and climate change in cities," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 385-418, April.
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