Abstract

BASILICO, Gabriel Omar; DE CABO, Laura  and  FAGGI, Ana. Adaptación de índices de calidad de agua y de riberas para la evaluación ambiental en dos arroyos de la llanura Pampeana. Rev. Mus. Argent. Cienc. Nat. [online]. 2015, vol.17, n.2, pp.119-134. ISSN 1853-0400.

The aquatic environments of the Pampas (Argentina) are subject to increasing human pressures, such as the dumping of domestic and industrial wastewater. Eight river samplings were conducted in the period 2010-2013 taking surface water samples at several locations of La Choza and El Durazno streams (Reconquista River basin, Buenos Aires) and in channels receiving agroindustrial effluents (chicken and pig farms). Two new indexes were adapted and applied: Water Quality Index of the Pampas Streams (ICAP) and Quality Index of the Pampas Riverbanks (ICRP). The variables used for the calculation of ICAP were total suspended solids (TSS), ammonium nitrogen (N-NH4+), total phosphorus (TP), BOD5 and dissolved oxygen (DO). Also, Water Quality Index (ICA) was calculated. ICRP was developed based on Riparian Quality Index (QBR). The discharge of wastewater from the poultry industry contributed to increased concentrations of TSS, N-NH4+, TP and BOD5. The mean values of the ICA and ICAP were low and similar, although ICAP was more effective to identify extreme water quality cases. The main factors that reduced the value of the ICRP were the absence or low abundance of marsh grasses, the presence of exotic and invasive plant species and the existence of channel crossing structures. The results suggest that the use of both indexes is a useful alternative in the environmental assessment in the Pampas streams.

Keywords : Agroecosystems; Water pollution; Wastewater; Nutrients; Suspended solids; Biological invasions.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )