Evaluación ambiental de aguas superficiales y sedimentos en la cuenca del río Tablachaca

Abstract

This environmental assessment was performed to find the pollution rate of the Tablachaca River Basin, located in Pallasca province ( Ancash ) and Santiago de Chuco province ( La Libertad ); and its sub basins. Water and sediments were analyzed in the dry season in August 2005 ( 15 stations ), and in the wet season in March 2006 ( 11 stations ). These stations were located using GPS. In water, Temperature, PH, Conductivity and Redox Potential were measured in situ, as well as the volume flow. Laboratory measurements were performed: In water, metáis ( Cu, Pb, Cd, As, Hg ), sulfates and turbidity were determined. In sediments, metáis ( Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, As, Hg ) were determined, and granulometric and mineralogical analyses were performed. Bio-analyses of the Boca Cabana River water ( Tablachaca River affluent ), were made, due to the high pollution of this river, in the dry season. The most polluted river ( metáis ), was the Boca Cabana River in the dry season; and in the wet season the Tablachaca River before the confluence with the Ancos River, was the most polluted. The sediments that had the best neutralization potential ( PNN ) belonged to the Conchucos River. The bio-analyses determined that the Boca Cabana River water ( in the dry season ), concentrated in 59%, was able to kill half of the organisms ( Daphnias ), in a period of 96 hours.