Geoprocessing applied to the estimation of susceptibility to contamination of the Serra Geral Aquifer: Scale of the Rio da Várzea river basin

Geoprocessing applied to the estimation of susceptibility to contamination of the Serra Geral Aquifer: scale of the Várzea River basin

Abstract

The Rio da Várzea river basin represents an important hydrological unit in the State of Rio Grande do Sul. Located in the northwest of the state, on the border with Santa Catarina, it covers 55 municipalities in the state. Thus, this study aims to estimate the susceptibility to contamination of the Serra Geral Aquifer on the river basin scale. For this, information was collected on the variables necessary to apply the susceptibility index, which vary from geology, hydrogeology, land use and topography. The results indicated that the susceptibility in the area varied from very low to very high, with a predominance of the moderate to high class, in 59% of the watershed. The Rio da Várzea watershed stands out as a pig breeding center, where this activity presents a high risk of contaminating the environment. Thus, it is concluded that the area has a moderate to high susceptibility in its largest territorial portion, with the highest concentrations of pig activities being present close to the Rio Uruguay channel. The importance of studies of this thematic nature is highlighted, which serves as an important source of information for the environmental preservation of the region.