Estudio del impacto ambiental en la calidad del agua del río Cuenca producido por la descarga del efluente de la planta de tratamiento de aguas residuales de Ucubamba

Abstract

Nowadays Wastewater Treatment Plants are a development indicator and also and effective process for environmental mitigation; although its effluent continues to be discharged to a natural receiving body. It is very important that the receiving body is able to absorb and neutralize the pollutant loads, for this reason the preservation of water quality should be monitored. In Cuenca, since 1999, has been operating the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) of Ucubamba, and its effluent is being discharged into the Cuenca river. This study attempts to determine the effects of the effluent on the river. In this way, the objective was established to determine the environmental impact that occurs in the water quality of the Cuenca river, due to the discharge of the effluent from the WWTP of the city Cuenca located in Ucubamba. To determine this impact, a distributive matrix of Leopold was used, in which those parameters determined by the ICA methodology were used, also the trophic state of the river was evaluated using chlorophyll measurements. The results showed that there is a negative impact categorized as compatible and also a positive impact, this due because the effluent dilutes certain concentrations of pollutants in the river. It can be concluded that the river’s state, in terms of quality, before the discharge is critical; this situation helps to the effluent effect does not represent a greater impact in it.