Evaluación de la calidad del agua en la quebrada El Salado aledaña a la relavera comunitaria El Tablón Portovelo.

Abstract

Abstract: Mining is practiced in the Zaruma-Portovelo Mining District since 1549 (arrival of the Spanish). Since then it has caused pollution problems. As a response to this problem, the community creek "El Tablón" (2014) was built, where mining waste from the area accumulates. The objective of this work is to determine the water quality of this water body adjacent to the river and the possible influence it may have on it. Physical-chemical parameters and heavy metals were analyzed and the Canadian Water Quality Index (CWQI) was evaluated. Concentrations of cyanide, lead and copper were found that exceeded the permissible limits of the TULSMA in the two samples; Cadmium and mercury only exceeded the limits in the first sampling. The results of the CWQI for the first and second sampling were poor and marginal respectively. No significant differences were found for the parameters analyzed between the sampling points, so it is concluded that there is no evidence that the relavera influences the decrease in water quality in the "El Salado" stream.