Cemeteries - A Potential Risk to Groundwater

Cemeteries are a source of environmental impacts among which is featured the risk to groundwater contamination by microorganisms that proliferate during the process of decomposition of bodies. The main objective of this work was to monitor the bacteriological quality of the water from the water table in three cemeteries chosen in accordance with geological and hydrogeological criteria: Vila Formosa and Vila Nova Cachoeirinha, located in the city of São Paulo, and Areia Branca in the city of Santos. These cities are situated in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. A total of 67 samples were collected through 36 piezometers installed in the internal area of the above-mentioned cemeteries, and were analysed between January and December of 1989. For this study microorganisms of fecal contamination were chosen, one pathogen, as well as two groups degradation of organic material bacteria.