HIDROGRÁFICA DO CÓRREGO RICO, JABOTICABAL SP)

Water is an important vehicle for transmitting diseases, thus rural populations with no access to public sanitation are more susceptible to consumption of contaminated water. So the objective was to characterize the quality of water consumed in farms located in the region of Jaboticabal-SP during both rainy and dry periods. Human and animal drinking water, as well as irrigation water samples were collected from 29 farms. Escherichia coli, mesophilic heterotrophs, nitrate and turbidity were determined for the water samples. Under current Brazilian legislation, supply and drinking water were the most contaminated. About half of the farms had water unfit for human consumption, mainly due to the presence of Escherichia coli. There was no difference in contamination levels between the rainy and dry seasons. KEY-WORDS: Escherichia coli. Rural properties. Public health. Water quality