PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WATER QUALITY OF LOS ANGELES RIVER

BARROS J.; VEGA OVEJERO A.; AYBAR V.; CORRALES M.; ROMERO R.; ROMERO P.; IBAÑEZ BALESTRA L.; SALAS L.

Electron Microscopy and Cell Biology

Instituto de Histología y Embriología

Lugar: Mendoza; Año: 2021 vol. 45 p. 95 - 95

1667-5746

Los Angeles River runs through a longitudinal valley in the homonymous locality, in the department Capayán province of Catamarca. The water is collected for human consumption, irrigation, and recreation in summer. The objective of this research was to evaluate the quality of the water for different uses, combining physicochemical and biological parameters: bacteriological and biotic indices based on benthic macroinvertebrates. The sampling station was established in ?La Toma? (28º26?45,17??S 65º57?01,89??W; 1.779 MASL), where the water is captured and diverted to the water treatment plant for its treatment. On site, with a digital multimeter for water it was determined: temperature (T), electric conductivity (CE) y pH. In the laboratory, it was determined: alkalinity (Al), hardness (D), calcium (Ca) magnesium (Mg), chlorine (Cl), organic material (MO) and sulfates (S). Bacteriological analysis included: Total Aerobic Mesophilic Heterotrophs (TAMH), Total Coliforms (TC), Fecal Coliforms (FC) and presence/absence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. Physicochemical and bacteriological analyzes of water were carried out following standardized norms. The macroinvertebrates were collected with a Surber type sampler (900 cm2 of surface; 300 μm-mesh opening); two integrated samples for analysis, in winter 2019. Indices were obtained: IBMWP? (Iberian Biological Monitoring Working Party) adjusted for NOA; ASPT? (Average Score Per Taxon) and FBI (Family Biotic Index). The values of the physicochemical variables of the water were: T = 9ºC; CE = 0.252 μS/cm at 25ºC; pH = 6.87; Al = 119 ppm; D = 86 ppm; Ca = 26.8 ppm; Mg = 3.78 ppm; Cl = 7.9 ppm; MO = 0.8 ppm; S = 0.8 ppm. The results of the bacteriological analyzes were: TAMH = 100 CFU/mL; CT = 23 NMP/100 mL; CF = 9 CFU/100 mL; Presence of E. coli; Absence of P. aeruginosa. The biotic indices reached the following values: IBMWP? = 175 (very clean waters); ASPT? = 5.83 (no impact water); FBI = 4.19 (very good quality, light organic contamination). The water can be used for irrigation, recreation, and human consumption, after purification. The knowledge generated may be used to enhance and manage the water resource.