Title
Insights from water quality of high andean springs for human consumption in Peru
Date Issued
01 October 2021
Access level
metadata only access
Resource Type
journal article
Publisher(s)
MDPI
Abstract
The headwaters of the high Andean basin in Peru accumulate water from the mist, rain, snow, and hail, and it is transported superficially and underground to low-lying areas, mostly used for drinkable purposes. The natural water in these areas might be altered due to legal and illegal mining extraction. The aim of the study was to evaluate the water quality for human consumption. Seventeen water samples were examined from Andahuaylas (A), San Jerónimo (S), Talavera (T), and Chiara (CH) districts located between 2813 and 4004 m altitude in the Andes. We used physicochemical, microbiological, and metal parameters, and the results were compared to permissible levels established by the WHO and ECA-Peru to examine samples collected in the dry and rainy seasons in 2019. Application of principal component analysis (PCA) identified areas and conditioning parameters. Extractive mining activity influences the quality of springs due to the presence of metals, especially antimony (Sb), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb), values of which are higher than values permissible for human consumption, being higher in the dry season (p < 0.05). In addition, the presence of cations and particulate matter affects physico-chemical parameters, for example turbidity. PCA showed that parameters for water characterization are season-independent, and water quality in the springs would be conditioned by the presence of metals, especially in Andahuaylas and Talavera zones, as well as the parameters that are associated with dissolved solids in the water (turbidity and fluorides). A frequent monitoring program of springs and groundwater is recommended, with the purpose to protect water from contamination and guarantee safe water availability in low-lying and urbanized areas.
Volume
13
Issue
19
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Agronomía Oceanografía, Hidrología, Recursos hídricos
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85115908011
Source
Water (Switzerland)
ISSN of the container
20734441
Sponsor(s)
This research was funded by Vicepresidencia de Investigación de la Universidad Nacional José María Arguedas, Andahuaylas, Apurimac, Perú
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus