Water Map raised by the Public Agency evidenced the quality of the supply in the city

Treated water can carry pesticides and other chemical and radioactive substances hazardous to health when above the limits established by the Ministry of Health. The Water Map, just released by the Public Agency, analyzed the supply in the country regarding water contamination by toxic substances between 2018 and 2020, according to data from the Drinking Water Surveillance Information System (SISAGUA).  

The research included 2645 cities with no tests for the presence of chemical and radioactive substances in the water and 2161 with all the tests within established limits.  In 763 counties, substances over the permitted limit level were identified. In Santa Catarina, among the 157.947 tests conducted, 370 detected the presence of pollutants or products that make the water improper for consumption.  

Itapema was one of the cities in which the Map detected no contamination, with all substances within safety level. The survey shows that most contamination (51%) originated from the water treatment itself, with the so-called “disinfection products”, generated whenever chloride interacts with other substances. The second major cause (35%) comes from the inorganic elements, some of them carcinogenic. Organic materials (7%), pesticides (5%) and radioactive materials are the other causes.    

“Water treatment in Itapema goes through safe quality control processes in compliance with the ISO 9001 norms. Water samples are collected daily at springs, water distribution networks and treatment plants and go through chemical and bacteriological analyses to guarantee that the water that reaches the taps is fit for human consumption”, says Denis Grassi, superintendente da Conasa Águas de Itapema Superintendent. .

On social media, the mayor of Itapema, Nilza Simas, highlighted the quality of the water distributed in the city: “Itapema is among the few cities in the region that has quality water coming from taps”.