Environ Monit Assess (2023) 195:931

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-023-11499-w

RESEARCH

Application of spatial environmental indicators

in the assessment of degradation potential of water
resources in water basins
Leticia Tondato Arantes · Bruno Henrique Tondato Arantes · Bruna Henrique Sacramento ·
Hetiany Ferreira da Costa · Renan Angrizani de Oliveira · Vanessa Cezar Simonetti ·
Darllan Collins da Cunha e Silva · Roberto Wagner Lourenço

Received: 6 September 2022 / Accepted: 10 June 2023 / Published online: 11 July 2023
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023

Abstract Changes in land use have been occurring
in a continuous and disorderly way in recent dec-
ades due to rapid population growth and the growing
demand for food. These constant changes result in a
series of harmful effects to the environment, espe-
cially to water resources, significantly changing their
availability and quality. This study aims to evaluate
the degradation potential of watersheds through an
evaluation of some environmental indicators using
arithmetic means to construct an index called in this
research “index of potential environmental degrada-
tion” (IPED). To form the IPED, the hydrographic
sub-basins of the Sorocabuçu River, located in the
central west of the State of São Paulo, Brazil, com-
prised the study area. The results showed that most
hydrographic sub-basins, that is, eight units, present
degradation values ranging from moderate to very
high, resulting mainly from low conservation values
of forests plus a use destined to the planting of tem-
porary cultures depending on good physical condi-
tions. On the other hand, only one sub-basin showed
a low degradation value. The methodology used for
the development of the IPED is easy to apply and
an effective tool for environmental analyses. It may
contribute to studies and forms of planning and
land use management aiming the conservation of
water resources and protected areas and reduction of
degradation.

L. T. Arantes (*) · B. H. Sacramento · H. F. da Costa V. C. Simonetti

Environmental Science Department, São Paulo State e-mail: va_simonetti@hotmail.com
University (UNESP), Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil
e-mail: leticia.tondato@unesp.br D. C. da Cunha e Silva
Environmental Engineering Department, São Paulo State
B. H. Sacramento
University (UNESP), Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil
e-mail: bruna.sacramento@unesp.br
e-mail: darllan.collins@unesp.br
H. F. da Costa
e-mail: hetiany.costa@unesp.br R. W. Lourenço
Institute of Science and Technology of Sorocaba, São
B. H. T. Arantes Paulo State University (UNESP) Sorocaba, São Paulo,
Goiano Federal Institute, Rio Verde, Goiás, Brazil Brazil
e-mail: bhtondato@gmail.com e-mail: roberto.lourenco@unesp.br

R. A. de Oliveira · V. C. Simonetti
Environmental Engineering Department, University
of Sorocaba (UNISO), Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil
e-mail: renan.oliveira@prof.uniso.br

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