The main subject of the present work was to carry out a hydrochemistry comparative study between two river basins in São Paulo State: the Jacaré-Guaçu Basin (21°37'-22°22'S and 47°43'-48°57'W) and the Jaú Basin (22°09'-22°28'S and 48°16'-48°47'W). Nine sampling points in the Jacaré-Guaçu River and eight in the Jaú River were established. The water sampling was performed once each two months from March/95 to September/95. The following variables were analyzed: temperature (°C), pH, conductivity (muScm--1), dissolved oxygen (mg/L) and ionic water composition. Comparatively the Jaú River showed higher spatial variability, less oxygenated water and higher mineralization, due to high pedological and geological substrate richness, point sources existence and less riparian forests. The Jacaré-Guaçu River showed less spatial variability, more oxygenated water with lower ionic concentration due to the lower geological and pedological watershed richness, absence of pollution from point sources and higher riparian forest protection.
river basin; river chemistry; land uses
