Estimación de la variación de la calidad del agua del embalse Río Tercero (Córdoba, Argentina) mediante técnicas estadísticas.

BONANSEA, MATIAS; GARETTO, EDGAR; MANCINI, MIGUEL; LEDESMA, CLAUDIA; PINOTTI, LUCIO; RODRIGUEZ, CLAUDIA

Congreso; VI Congreso Internacional sobre Gestión y Tratamiento Integral del Agua; 2016

Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias de la UNC, la Universidad Blas Pascal, Aguas Cordobesas y la Fundación PRODTI

Abstract: Calamuchita Valley, located in the west-central region of Cordoba province (Argentina), is characterized by several multipurpose reservoirs that are exposed to environmental degradation due to activities conducted in their watersheds. The objective of this study was to evaluate spatial and temporal variations in water quality of Río Tercero reservoir, which is the biggest artifitial dam in the province, by applying different techniques of multivariate statistics. 6 sampling sites were evaluated for 21 physical, chemical and biological parameters in each climate season during monitoring programs carried out Turing 2003 to 2010. The data matrix obtained was analyzed by different statistical techniques finding spatial and temporal differences in water quality. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed as a first approach to find significant spatial and temporal differences in water quality variables. Cluster analysis grouped sampling sites into three groups due to their spatial location in the reservoir and climate seasons were classified into two groups based on their similarities. Principal component analysis and factor analysis demonstrated the existence of 5 factors that accounted for 79.3% of the total variance of the data, which were associated with soluble salts, nutrients, physical and chemical parameters and a noncommon source. This study demonstrated the usefulness of multivariate statistical techniques as a tool to improve the interpretation and assessing of available information relating to water quality of aquatic systems.