Abstract
A chemometrical study regarding a 10-years water quality monitoring plan at 15 sampling points along a section of the Reconquista River and its stream channels, which embraces 21 campaigns, is presented. The original data were pre-treated in order to eliminate missing data and outliers, obtaining a final data matrix of 270 samples containing 26 physical-chemistry variables each. Multivariate statistical methods like multi curve resolution, canonical correlation analysis and factor analysis methods, as well as current univariate statistics were applied. The interpretation was simplified when variables were separated in groups containing environmentally and chemically related variables instead of analyzing them all together. These methods have shown that the presence of metals likely come from at least 3 different type of sources. Although the stream channels arriving to the main river course are highly polluted, their flow rates are so low that do not significantly decrease its water quality. They mainly contribute to the high levels of biochemical-oxygen demand and chemical-oxygen demand as well as nitrogen-content species. Furthermore, regarding metals, the pollutants coming from the upstream of the river is higher than those introduced by all channels.
Highlights
It is clear today that fresh-water flows are an essential human resource for the mankind
The stream channels arriving to the main river course are highly polluted, their flow rates are so low that do not significantly decrease its water quality
Multivariate techniques are methods of analysis generally recognized as very well known tools to study environmental problems [9,10]. From this kind of methods, Multivariate Curve Resolution (MCR) [11,12] has been selected as one of the most advantageous to have a close look of our system
Summary
It is clear today that fresh-water flows are an essential human resource for the mankind. About 20% of normal flow of world’s rivers is used by humankind’s necessities like agriculture, hydropower and domestic use. Several activities water-dependent resources, like agricultural and industrial as well as heavily dense populated cities with inadequate sanitary infrastructure, have seriously compromised the quality of surface waters because agricultural runoff, the introduction of heavy metals by industrial untreated waste, organic persistent compounds and pathogens. The shanty towns waste the dirty water by channelling it into the sewer to the surface water flows. The discharge of untreated wastewater is a growing environmental concern, with many rivers being turned into open sewers. Many downstream populations receive water of low quality, unsuitable for domestic use and protection of aquatic life
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