Assessing the Physicochemical and Microbiological Condition of Surface Waters in Urabá-Colombia: Impact of Human Activities and Agro-Industry

ABSTRACT: Water resources in the Urabá region of Colombia, one of the most significant banana-producing areas for global consumption, are confronted with substantial challenges due to agro-industrial activities, population growth, untreated wastewater discharge, and excessive groundwater usage. This study aims to comprehensively evaluate the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of surface waters in Urabá, delving into the influence of agroindustrial activities and human interventions on water quality. The evaluation includes a correlation analysis of multiple water quality parameters measured in ten significant rivers of the region. The findings reveal overall water pollution, potentially associated with the lack of wastewater treatment systems in nearby communities and indicate potential seawater intrusion due to groundwater overexploitation from human and agricultural activities. Among the studied rivers, the Apartadó River exhibits the poorest water quality, while the León River demonstrates better conditions, benefiting from less human interference and natural ecosystems.

• Autores: Aristizábal Tique, Víctor Hugo; Gómez Gallego, Diana Maryory; Ramos Hernández, Ivis Tatiana; Arcos Arango, Yamilet; Polanco Echeverry, Diana Nayibe; Vélez Hoyos, Francisco Javier
• Tipo de recurso: Article of investigation
• Fecha de publicación: 2024
• Institución: Universidad de Antioquia
• Repositorio: Repositorio UdeA
• Idioma: eng
• OAI Identifier: oai:bibliotecadigital.udea.edu.co:10495/43509
• Acceso en línea: https://hdl.handle.net/10495/43509
• Palabra clave: Calidad del Agua; Water Quality; Aguas Superficiales; Surface Waters; Contaminación del Agua; Water Pollution; Microbiología del Agua; Water Microbiology; Urabá (Antioquia, Colombia); Agroindustria; Agro-industry; Características Fisicoquímicas del Agua; Water Physicochemical Characteristics; intrusión de agua marina; Seawater intrusion; http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_28831; https://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/D060753; https://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/D014876; https://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/D014871
• Rights: openAccess
• License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/