Influence of miners dumping on water physiochemical characteristics four rivers of the north Chocó Biogeográfico

Abstract

From the identification of four water sources, receiving mining discharges present in the municipalities of Condoto, Tadó and Quibdó, the influence of effluents from the auroplatinífera mining on the physico-chemical characteristics of water was analyzed at three different points distributed before, during and after dumping. Above, by applying in situ and analyzing water samples in laboratory measurements. It was determined that the miners vertimientos exert a statistically significant influence especially on solid variables totals and suspended solids, although for turbidity and DQO variables, statistically significant between the stations before and during differences were recorded, and between before and after the miners vertimientos. On the other hand, although not the same behavior for variables like mercury and fats and oils, at some points the concentrations were outside the values established by national and international standards in water for human consumption and domestic use and water for observed conservation of aquatic flora and fauna, unlike the pH, who recorded values within the range established for both uses. Regarding DBO₅, this was constant and relatively very low for all four points analyzed in water sources.