Controle de qualidade de Águas Minerais / Quality control of Mineral Waters

The great concern with the quality of water is due to water pollution, being one of the reasons that take a large part of the world population to the consumption of water from mineral sources. Mineral water is characterized by the content of mineral salts, by the presence of trace elements and other constituents. Therefore, the objective of the study was to determine the physico-chemical characteristics of mineral waters available in the market of the city of Teresina-PI and verify if these characteristics are in compliance with current Brazilian legislation. The samples were obtained at the local trade in the city of Teresina-PI where analyzes of pH, turbidity, electrical conductivity, alkalinity and hardness were performed at the Laboratory of Bromatology of the IFPI Teresina central campus followed by statistical analyzes performed through the program Microsoft Excel 2010. Only pH and Turbidity parameters are specific physico-chemical parameters for mineral water. All brands showed pH and turbidity within the legally accepted. For the physical-chemical characteristics addressed in this research required by RDC 54/2000, by Ordinance 518/2004 and by Ordinance 2914/2011, the analyzed brands are fit for human consumption.