Calidad fisicoquímica y microbiológica del agua superficial del río Grande de Tárcoles, Costa Rica: un enfoque ecológico
Fecha
2021-06
Autores
Pérez-Gómez, Gabriela
Alvarado-García, Virginia
Rodríguez-Rodríguez, Jorengeth Abad
Herrera, Federico
Sánchez-Gutiérrez, Rolando
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Editor
Universidad Estatal a Distancia (Costa Rica)
Resumen
Introducción: La calidad del agua en una cuenca hidrográfica, y su uso potencial, se ven afectados por factores antrópicos y naturales. El río Tárcoles es el receptor final de aguas de la región central de Costa Rica, donde el tratamiento de aguas residuales es inadecuado o inexistente. Objetivo: Evaluar la contaminación del agua en el río y evaluar a los macroinvertebrados como bioindicadores del ecosistema. Métodos: Se realizaron evaluaciones fisicoquímicas, microbiológicas y de macroinvertebrados del agua superficial en cuatro sitios durante doce meses consecutivos, incluidos dos índices de calidad del agua (ICA-NSF y holandés). Hicimos visitas mensuales para la colocación y recolección de sustratos artificiales para macroinvertebrados acuáticos, y visitas bimensuales para la recolección de muestras de agua para análisis ex situ de los parámetros fisicoquímicos y microbiológicos. Además, se caracterizó el uso del suelo en la parte baja de Tárcoles a partir de archivos tipo “raster” de cobertura. Resultados: Algunas variables fisicoquímicas tuvieron concentraciones similares a las informadas para otros ríos costarricenses, mientras que el oxígeno fue inferior. Las variables microbiológicas indicaron altos niveles de contaminación, especialmente en la época de lluvias. En la estación seca, hubo más macroinvertebrados acuáticos, siendo Chironomidae, Oligochaeta e Hydrobiidae los más abundantes. La contaminación de los ríos se clasifica como "incipiente" según el índice holandés y como "calidad media" según el ICA-NSF. Conclusiones: la contaminación del río Tárcoles se debe principalmente a un uso inadecuado del suelo y actividades antrópicas. Recomendamos un plan de gestión de cuencas e investigación sobre la salud del ecosistema y la conservación de especies vulnerables.
“Physicochemical and microbiological quality of surface water in the Grande de Tárcoles River, Costa Rica: an ecological approach”. Introduction: The quality of the water in a hydrographic basin and its potential use are affected by anthropic and natural factors. The Tárcoles River is the final receiver of waters from the central region of Costa Rica, where the treatment of wastewater is inadequate or non-existent. Objective: To evaluate water pollution in the river and review macroinvertebrates as ecosystem bioindicators. Methods: Physicochemical, microbiological and macroinvertebrate evaluations of the surface water were done in four sites for twelve consecutive months, including two water quality indices (ICA-NSF and Dutch). Monthly visits were made for the placement and collection of artificial substrates for aquatic macroinvertebrates, and bimonthly visits for the collection of water samples for ex situ analysis of the physicochemical and microbiological parameters. In addition, the land use in the lower part of Tárcoles was characterized from cover raster files. Results: Some physicochemical variables showed similar concentrations to those reported for other Costa Rican rivers, while oxygen showed lower values. The microbiological variables indicated high pollution levels, especially in the rainy season. In the dry season, there were more aquatic macroinvertebrates, and Chironomidae, Oligochaeta and Hydrobiidae were the most abundant. River pollution is categorized as “incipient” according to the Dutch index and as “medium quality” according to the ICA-NSF. Conclusions: the pollution of the Tárcoles River is mainly due to inadequate land use and anthropic activities. We recommend a basin management plan and research on ecosystem health and conservation of vulnerable species.
“Physicochemical and microbiological quality of surface water in the Grande de Tárcoles River, Costa Rica: an ecological approach”. Introduction: The quality of the water in a hydrographic basin and its potential use are affected by anthropic and natural factors. The Tárcoles River is the final receiver of waters from the central region of Costa Rica, where the treatment of wastewater is inadequate or non-existent. Objective: To evaluate water pollution in the river and review macroinvertebrates as ecosystem bioindicators. Methods: Physicochemical, microbiological and macroinvertebrate evaluations of the surface water were done in four sites for twelve consecutive months, including two water quality indices (ICA-NSF and Dutch). Monthly visits were made for the placement and collection of artificial substrates for aquatic macroinvertebrates, and bimonthly visits for the collection of water samples for ex situ analysis of the physicochemical and microbiological parameters. In addition, the land use in the lower part of Tárcoles was characterized from cover raster files. Results: Some physicochemical variables showed similar concentrations to those reported for other Costa Rican rivers, while oxygen showed lower values. The microbiological variables indicated high pollution levels, especially in the rainy season. In the dry season, there were more aquatic macroinvertebrates, and Chironomidae, Oligochaeta and Hydrobiidae were the most abundant. River pollution is categorized as “incipient” according to the Dutch index and as “medium quality” according to the ICA-NSF. Conclusions: the pollution of the Tárcoles River is mainly due to inadequate land use and anthropic activities. We recommend a basin management plan and research on ecosystem health and conservation of vulnerable species.
Descripción
Palabras clave
BIOINDICADORES, CALIDAD DEL AGUA, AQUATIC MACROINVERTEBRATES, PHYSICOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS, RÍO GRANDE DE TÁRCOLES (COSTA RICA)