Seasonal variation of heavy metals in surface water of the Ananea river contaminated by artisanal mining, Peru

Abstract

The objective of this research work is to evaluate the effects of mining tailings leak on the water quality of the Ananea river, which contain heavy metals. For which techniques such as taking surface water samples were applied at five strategic points, programming two sampling campaigns; one in the rainy season (March) and the other in the dry season (June). Heavy metal concentrations were determined by the EPA METHOD 200.7 Atomic Emission Spectrometry method; The results show that the highest concentrations were recorded at the M-1 sampling point for both the dry season and the rainy season. These concentrations are well above the peruvian Environmental Quality Standards (WQS) for water. In the same way, point M-1 was identified as the most critical and vulnerable to contamination in the study area by heavy metals that are above WQS. Likewise, the survey technique was applied, for which a question sheet was prepared for the surrounding population according to the activities carried out in this part of the basin, obtaining data to determine the effects caused by mining pollution on the surrounding life. In conclusion, the quality of the waters of the Ananea River are contaminated by the presence of heavy metals and these have been causing negative effects to all the surrounding life found in the study area.

Uniformity of water distribution in sprinkler irrigation mini-cannons in a high Andean community in Peru

“…However, there are fundamental factors that affect the water distribution process performed by sprinklers, where it is limited by climatic conditions, mainly the wind hindering the uniform distribution of water [8] and others such as the slope of the terrain [9]. The sprinkler irrigation system applies water to the soil simulating rainfall by the pressure that flows the water and thus supplies the water requirements in quantity, quality, and opportunity, which requires the crop for its growth and production; however, the excess as the lack of water resource is essential to avoid losses of water for agriculture, this mainly in the Peruvian highlands, because it is a semi-arid region [10], where climatic conditions are severe, with strong winds and irregular rainfall [11]. This research aims to determine the uniformity of water distribution through mini irrigation cannons in the conditions of the Peruvian highlands, with the specific objectives of determining the pressure, discharge, and characteristics of the mini cannons installed in alfalfa plots to compare the proposed and current design, determine the uniformity coefficient and uniformity of distribution, using the formulas of Christiansen [12] y Merriam & Keller [13], to define the percentage of uniformity of distributed water and determine the influence of wind on the distribution of water.…”