The vulnerability of indigenous populations: Water quality consumed by the Maxakali community, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Abstract

Distributed in four villages with approximately 1800 individuals, the Maxakali people have the second largest indigenous population in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. This community’s water quality is usually evaluated according to its palatability, and whether it meets certain visual criteria. Thus, a descriptive study was carried out including samples of surface and groundwater consumed in four villages. One survey was completed in each of the three seasonal periods in 2015. Hydrogen potential (Ph), turbidity, dissolved oxygen concentration, conductivity, nitrate, and total and thermotolerant coliforms were measured. The villages with the largest number of samples with values higher than tolerable were Verde Village (100%), followed by Água Boa Village (85.7%) and Pradinho (71.4%). All villages sampled showed higher-than-acceptable levels of dissolved oxygen, and total and fecal coliforms in more than 50% of the samples. The turbidity and conductivity changes were detected in three of the four villages. Thus, the water consumed by this community, untreated as per local tradition, presents a high risk for the occurrence of waterborne diseases in this population group.

Keywords:
Water physicochemical characteristics; Water microbiological characteristics; Seasonal variation; Water Resources