The water crisis in Brazil has been worsening over the years, impacted by changes in the rain cycle, climatic effects, and pollution. According to MapBiomas, water and the marine environment represented 2.1% of the country's coverage in 2024, equivalent to 17,869,548 hectares (ha). In 1985, the coverage was 21,138,307 ha.
The value recorded in 2024 is also 4% lower than the average of the MapBiomas historical series, which started 40 years ago. The survey highlights that eight of the ten driest years in the measurement occurred in the last decade.
However, throughout 2024, 1,160 analyses were carried out at 145 collection points, distributed across 112 rivers and water bodies, covering 67 municipalities in 14 states of the Atlantic Forest (Mata Atlântica).
The results indicate that no Atlantic Forest river had its quality classified as optimal; however, more than 83% of the analyzed points have conditions for water use, such as human supply, agriculture, animal watering, industry, leisure, among others, according to the study “Observing the Rivers 2025 - The portrait of water quality in the Atlantic Forest hydrographic basins,” conducted by the SOS Mata Atlântica Foundation.
The Relationship Between the Water Crisis and Water Quality
The scarcity caused by the water crisis directly affects the quality of the water that reaches treatment plants, demanding high treatment costs to ensure the quality and regulatory compliance of the water sent to homes.
The remaining water from the scarcity is considered less safe for human consumption and the environment because the capacity to dilute pollutants is reduced, increasing the concentration of impurities and microorganisms. Therefore, the analysis and monitoring of water quality are vital during periods of a water crisis.
Dissolved Oxygen (DO), for example, is affected, as with a smaller volume of water, the temperature increases faster, leading to a drop in DO and the death of marine life. Online monitoring is essential in this scenario; thus, Digimed offers the DO analyzer, transmitter, and controller, TO-401.
An instrument with easy operation and maintenance, which features temperature compensation and automatic calibration and check cycles. It has an analog output and a configurable transmitter output. Highly applied in Biological Effluent Treatment Plants (BETP) and Water Treatment Plants (WTP), it also offers a switched-mode power supply and an IP-68 enclosure with optional Ex certification.
Scarcity also promotes higher Turbidity, causing the water arriving at Water Treatment Plants (WTP) to be cloudier, leading to filter clogging and higher costs for treatment products.
For Turbidity monitoring, Digimed has developed a line of turbidimeters ranging from high to ultra-low Turbidity, promoting accurate analyses.
The pH, on the other hand, can become unstable due to high algae activity, and if the pH fluctuates too much, cleaning chemicals lose their effect, causing the water to fail to meet regulatory standards.
To meet this demand, we have developed a complete line of process, laboratory, and field instruments that enable assertive decision-making for water treatment.
Given its importance to society, water quality, even during a water crisis period, must comply with the standards indicated by environmental regulations, thus ensuring human health and the preservation of ecosystems.
Thus, performing analyses and monitoring is not just a technical requirement but an essential step to guarantee the water security of future generations and the maintenance of ecosystems that depend on this vital resource.
In this scenario, Digimed, a pioneer in analytical instrumentation and a specialist in environmental analyses, plays a strategic role in preserving water quality, as it allows for the monitoring, diagnosis, and prevention of impacts that could compromise water availability and safety.
Digimed develops complete solutions for water analysis and monitoring in Water Treatment Plants (WTP) and Sewage Treatment Plants (STP), such as process analyzers that act as transmitters and controllers.
Contact our team of specialists to present a solution for your project!