Analysis of the environmental integrity of water springs in rural areas

The Brazilian legislation recognizes water springs and their surroundings as permanent preservation areas. In rural areas, many property owners do not follow the legislation, compromising their integrity and ecosystem functions. The objective of the study was to evaluate the environmental integrity of water springs in rural areas using the Environmental Impact Index of Springs and new indicators for planning, recovery, and preservation actions. The study was carried out in the northwest of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, analyzing water springs with different use and conservation conditions. The Environmental Impact Index of Springs was evaluated and a detailed description of risks of pollution was carried out, called Characterization of the Surroundings of the Water Spring. The Environmental Impact Index of Springs shows that the preservation of springs in rural areas is compromised, mainly due to absence of vegetation, use by humans and animals, and easy accessibility. The Characterization of the Surroundings of the Water Spring pointed out that, even in the presence of vegetation, potential sources of contamination are found, showing the need for action plans to mitigate these effects. The joint use of these methodologies provides multidisciplinary and comprehensive subsidies to assess the integrity of these threatened ecosystems.