American Journal of Water Resources, 2017, Vol. 5, No. 2, 29-40 Available online at http://pubs.sciepub.com/ajwr/5/2/2 ©Science and Education Publishing DOI:10.12691/ajwr-5-2-2 Hydrochemical Assessment of Spring Waters from the Iron Quadrangle Region, Minas Gerais, Brazil Cláudia A. Ferreira 1,* , Helena E. L. Palmieri 2 , Maria Ângela de B. C. Menezes 2 , Lúcia M. L. A. Auler 2 1 Pos Graduation in Science and Radiation Technology, Minerals and Materials, (CDTN/CNEN), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil 2 Nuclear Technology Development Centre/Brazilian Commission for Nuclear Energy (CDTN/CNEN), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil *Corresponding author: cferreiraquimica@yahoo.com.br Abstract This study deals with the hydrochemical characterization and water quality assessment of springs spread throughout the Iron Quadrangle (IQ) in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. In the past these spring waters played an essential and strategic role in supplying towns with potable water. Up to this day water is used by both the local population and tourists who thrust in its quality. A total of forty-four spring water and four artesian well water samples were collected at 26 points in different municipalities of the IQ in two different surveys, March and August 2015, wet and dry seasons, respectively. These water samples were studied for 38 physico-chemical parameters: turbidity (TB), electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), total hardness (TH), pH, Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , Na + , K + , F - , Cl - , SO 4 2- , HCO 3 - , NH 4 + , NO 3 - , NO 2 - , PO 4 - , SiO 2 , Fe, Li, V, Cr, Cr (VI), Co, Ni, Cu, As, Ba, Al, Mn, Zn, Sb, Cd, Mo, Se, Tl, Hg and U, as well as thermotolerant coliforms (TC). The pH value of groundwater in the study area ranges from 3.8 to 7.0, indicating the acid nature of most of the spring water samples. In these samples, Ca 2+ and Na + are the major cations and HCO 3 - and NO 3 - the dominant anions. As expected, the trace metals presented the following decreasing concentrations: Fe> Ba> Al> Mn> Zn> Ni, since the IQ region is abundant in iron, aluminum and manganese minerals. The chemical relationships in Piper diagram identified mixed-bicarbonate, magnesium- bicarbonate and sodium-bicarbonate as the most prevalent water types. The Gibbs plots of data from the study area indicated that the chemical composition of most spring water samples was controlled primarily by rainfall dominance. Except for some springs, groundwater in the study area are inappropriate for drinking and domestic purposes but good for animal consumption, irrigation and recreation. Keywords: spring waters, Iron Quadrangle, Minas Gerais-Brazil, hydrochemical assessment, trace elements Cite This Article: Cláudia A. Ferreira, Helena E. L. Palmieri, Maria Ângela de B. C. Menezes, and Lúcia M. L. A. Auler, “Hydrochemical Assessment of Spring Waters from the Iron Quadrangle Region, Minas Gerais, Brazil.” American Journal of Water Resources, vol. 5, no. 2 (2017): 29-40. doi: 10.12691/ajwr-5-2-2. 1. Introduction Water is probably the only natural resource which is a primary requirement in all aspects of human civilization, from agricultural and industrial development to cultural and religious values embedded in society [1]. It is an essential element for life, a basic necessity and is the world’s most valuable asset in future resources. Therefore, potable water must be provided to all [2]. Although almost two thirds of our planet is covered with water, only a tiny fraction of less than 1% is available to the needs of mankind as pure and healthy freshwater. Almost all available resources are stored underground (about 99%) from where they must be tapped for drinking water supply as well as for agricultural, industrial and environmental purposes. Hosted in various types of aquifers, groundwater appears at the surface in the form of spring feeding streams and wetlands. While still underground, they provide an estimated 25% to 40% of all drinking water on the planet. They may interact with various minerals in the aquifer and become enriched in several elements, some of which are good for our health but others are less so and some can even be toxic if the critical concentrations are exceeded [3]. The increased and inadequate use of conventional fresh water sources like rivers, reservoirs, lakes, and wells have severely decreased the quality and availability of fresh water resources and have, therefore, intensified the search for alternate sources for meeting potable water requirements worldwide. Spring discharge, rain water harvesting, desalination of sea water, etc., are some of the alternate sources of fresh water in several tropical and subtropical regions [4]. Groundwater quality depends not only on natural factors such as aquifer lithology, groundwater velocity, quality of recharge waters and interaction with other types of water or aquifers, but also on anthropogenic activities, which can alter these fragile systems, either by polluting them or by modifying the hydrological cycle [5]. Toxic inorganic element concentrations are very important for the evaluation of groundwater quality. When these concentrations exceed the maximum permissible limits set by national and international regulations on the quality of water intended for human consumption, adverse health