Abstract
The headwaters of the high Andean basin in Peru accumulate water from the mist, rain, snow, and hail, and it is transported superficially and underground to low-lying areas, mostly used for drinkable purposes. The natural water in these areas might be altered due to legal and illegal mining extraction. The aim of the study was to evaluate the water quality for human consumption. Seventeen water samples were examined from Andahuaylas (A), San Jerónimo (S), Talavera (T), and Chiara (CH) districts located between 2813 and 4004 m altitude in the Andes. We used physicochemical, microbiological, and metal parameters, and the results were compared to permissible levels established by the WHO and ECA-Peru to examine samples collected in the dry and rainy seasons in 2019. Application of principal component analysis (PCA) identified areas and conditioning parameters. Extractive mining activity influences the quality of springs due to the presence of metals, especially antimony (Sb), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb), values of which are higher than values permissible for human consumption, being higher in the dry season (p < 0.05). In addition, the presence of cations and particulate matter affects physico-chemical parameters, for example turbidity. PCA showed that parameters for water characterization are season-independent, and water quality in the springs would be conditioned by the presence of metals, especially in Andahuaylas and Talavera zones, as well as the parameters that are associated with dissolved solids in the water (turbidity and fluorides). A frequent monitoring program of springs and groundwater is recommended, with the purpose to protect water from contamination and guarantee safe water availability in low-lying and urbanized areas.
Highlights
Water is essential for the three dimensions of sustainable development: social, economic, and environmental [1,2,3]
This paper evaluates the insights of the water quality of different high Andean springs in the dry and rainy seasons, where the main objectives are to: (1) know the physical, chemical, and microbiological characteristics of the water, (2) determine the level of the metals, and (3) identify relevant water quality parameters through principal component analysis (PCA)
The study was conducted during the dry and rainy season in 2019, in the Chumbao river micro-basin, with a Cwb climate according to Köppen, with seasons characterized by intense rainfall between October and April, from 500 to 1000 mm/year (Figure 2), with a temperature between 5 and 23 ◦ C, and an average relative humidity of 55%
Summary
Water is essential for the three dimensions of sustainable development: social, economic, and environmental [1,2,3]. The high Andean areas of Peru are characterized by being the headwaters of basins, the place where the water is born in its natural form from the thawing of the snow-capped mountains and springs, flowing from 4500 m altitude, descending to the plain by underground infiltration, and gushing through springs. These headwaters have metallic mining deposits, where copper, iron, gold, and silver are extracted, which are exploited in both a legal and illegal way. These mining activities release large amounts of metals from the removed soils, infiltrating by runoff due to geomorphology and rainfall [10,11], reaching the water sources for human consumption. The presence of heavy metals in water for human consumption may be a health risk to the population due to bioaccumulation, especially of arsenic, chromium, aluminum, nickel, and lead, among others [2,12,13]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
