Quality of the groundwater of the Serra Geral Aquifer System of Santa Catarina west region, Brazil

The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of groundwater located in the west of Santa Catarina state, at Serra Geral Aquifer System (SGAS). It was selected 100 deep tubular wells distributed in urban and rural areas. 300 wells samples were collected at three different periods (march, september and november of 2014), which were submitted to heavy metal analysis (Cd, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Pb and Zn), nitrogen compounds (NO2-, NO3- e NH4+), pH, electrical conductivity, and turbidity. The results showed high levels of Fe and Mn, 31% and 85%, respectively, with not agreement with Brazil Ministry of Health Decree 2.914 of 2011 for human consumption. For the Cd, Cu, Mg, Pb, Zn analysis and nitrogen compound the results obtained agreed with the levels established in the current Brazilian legislation. On the other hand, for Cu, NO2- e NO3- analysis, it was observed the relation between sample and soil occupation, where high metal presence was observed in the urban perimeter, showing the relation with human occupation (population density in urban and rural areas). The influence of the geological formation in the presence of metals (Fe, Mg and Mn) in the groundwater of the study region was also observed.