摘要：Mining causes numerous environmental impacts; among them we have to mention the water contamination due to the residues inherent to the activity. “Morro do Níquel”, a mining site, located in southwest Minas Gerais, Brazil, has promoted an increase in the mining activity in the region. There has also been an increase in the amount of residues and substrates produced with the intensification of the mining activity. Being a purification derivative and the extracted minerals processing, the heavy metals have been accumulating in the ecosystem, being able to interfere with the population’s quality of life and health in the municipality of Pratápolis. Heavy metals are a class of highly reactive and some toxic substances. Such toxicity is caused by the inability of the organism to metabolize them, leading to bioaccumulation. Therefore, the present research aims to determine the presence of heavy metals in the surface water, supplying water and irrigation water in the city of Pratápolis-MG, in addition to evaluating the water quality through physical and chemical analyzes.
