Impact of point source pollution on shallow groundwater sourced for human consumption in a threshold country

CRUZ, MC; GUTIERREZ CACCIABUE, D; GIL, JF; GAMBONI, O; VICENTE, MS; WUERTZ, S; GONZO, E; RAJAL, VB

JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING

ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY

Lugar: CAMBRIDGE; Año: 2012 p. 1 - 12

1464-0325

Sourses of contamination including poultry farms and animal rearing without waste treatment, inadequate/scattered solid waste disposal, wastewater effluents, and settlements without sewer systems were identified in a peri-rural area in Salta, Argentina. A unified strategy involving satellite images and environmental monitoring was used to evaluate the pollution in the environment. The land use activities represent a high contamination risk for shallow groundwater and for the whole environment since the water tables are not deep and the soils are highly permeable. The location of farming activities close to waterways represents a high risk for drinking water supplies in Northern Argentina and other countries with similar geologic and climatic zones. Interventions are needed to improve water quality and thereby decrease the morbidity rate of diseases attributable to environmental causes.