Water quality in Atlantic Rainforest Mountain Rivers (South America): quality indices assessment, nutrients distribution and consumption effect

ESTEBAN AVIGLIANO; NAHUEL SCHENONE

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH

SPRINGER HEIDELBERG

Lugar: HEIDELBERG; Año: 2016

0944-1344

The South American Atlantic rainforest is one of akind ecosystem considered a biodiversity hotspot; however in the last decadeswas intensively reduce to a 7% of its original surface. Water resources andwater quality are one of the main goods and services this system provides topeople. For monitoring and management recommendations, the present study is focusedin 1) determine the nutrient content (nitrate, nitrite, ammonium and phosphate)and physiochemical parameters (temperature, pH, electrical conductivity,turbidity, dissolve oxygen and totaldissolved solids) in surface water from 24 rainforest mountain rivers in Argentina; 2)analyze the human health risk; 3) assess the environmental distribution of thedetermined pollutants and 4) analyze Water Quality Indices (WQIobjand WQImin). In addition, for total coliform bacteria a data set wasused from literature. Turbidity, totaldissolved solids and nitrite (NO2−) exceeded theguideline value recommended by national or international guidelines in severalsampling stations. The spatial distribution pattern was analyzed by PrincipalComponent Analysis and Factor Analysis (PCA/FA) showing well defined groups ofrivers. Both WQI showed good adjustment (R2=0.89) and ratedwater quality as good or excellent in all sampling sites (WQI>71). Therefore, this study suggests the use of the WQImin for monitoring water quality in the region and alsothe water treatment of coliform, totaldissolved solids and turbidity.