ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AT THE REGION OF THE MEDIUM SAO FRANCISCO RIVER

The problem of environmental impacts is an worrying factor to the current societies, which is not different in the municipality of Petrolina-PE. The great commercial hub in the region of the middle course of the Sao Francisco River attracts investors in the commercial, educational, industrial and agricultural areas. The economic development of the region carries within itself a demand of space for civil construction, buildings, houses, schools, shopping malls and industries, thus enhancing the production of solid waste, and generating problems of basic sanitation, air, water and soil pollution. This article aims to point out the causes and consequences of environmental impacts in the urban area of Petrolina-PE. The methodology embodies a literature review, focusing on environmental impacts. Books, periodical reviews, theses, events proceeding and relevant legislation have been used on the construction of the theoretical reference. The methodological procedures have been based on the work of Bardin (1977; 2002), which covers three important steps: pre-analysis, exploration of the material and summary of the result achieved. Through this survey it can be observed that the environmental degradation aggravated by the incorrect disposal of the waste and dumping of domestic effluents without due treatment in the tributary of the Sao Francisco river and in itself.