Water is essential for the maintenance of life. To date, no substance has been found
that is capable of replacing it. The human being depends on water for its activities, whether
for hygiene, work, or food, it is the source of life. However, when ingested without treatment
water is a carrier of disease. As a result, the Ministry of Health, through Administrative Rule
n° 2.914, dated December 12, 2011, established potability standards that make water
suitable for human consumption. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the water
quality available for consumption by students and employees of the UEA School of
Technology, where the chemical parameters (pH, chlorine, nitrate and total iron) and physical
parameters (turbidity) were evaluated. It was possible to carry out this water evaluation of the
7 drinking troughs that the institution has for everyone's access. At the end of the analyzes it
was possible to compare the results obtained with what regulates the legislation. The tests
showed absence of Escherichia coli in all samples, the presence of total coliforms and nitrate
was directly related to the asepsis of drinking fountains, the ionic potential of hydrogen (pH)
was slightly acidic, the presence of free residual chlorine in all samples remained below the
recommended level, the total iron was in accordance with the legislation and the parameter
of physical turbidity was presented within what is allowed by the Ministry of Health.
Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the maintenance and cleaning of drinking fountains and
filters of the institution, so that the parameters that have changed may be in compliance with
the requirements of an Ordinance of the Ministry of Health.
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