Evaluation of the water quality in the channels within the Special Regulation Zone of Los Pantanos de Villa wetland (Lima, Peru)

Abstract

The Ganaderos 1 and Vista Alegre 2 channels are located in the Special Regulation Zone of Los Pantanos de Villa wetlands, and they are essential because they maintain provisioning ecosystem services, such as: water for animals, supply of the wetland and its population. However, population growth and the activities that occur in the surroundings, such as wastewater dumping, have a negative impact on water quality. Therefore, the aim of this research was to evaluate the water quality of these two channels, by comparing it with categories 3 and 4 of the Environmental Quality Standards (ECA) for water and the Universal Water Quality Index of the European Union (ICA-UWQI). The values obtained in the measurement of pH, dissolved oxygen and electrical conductivity were 7.3, 3.3 gm / L and 62.1 μS / cm, respectively. This data was obtained from the annual average for the years 2019 to 2021. Through specific monitoring, it was found that the parameters of nitrate, phosphorus, BOD5, DO and Escherichia coli did not comply with the respective RCT. Also, the ICA-UWQI value obtained was 45.63, which is a marginal classification; that is, slightly impacted due to proximity with the local population and factories.