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Assessment of the hazards associated with water quality for irrigation in the Environmental Interceptor Canal of the RUT District, Colombia
Evaluación de los peligros asociados a la calidad del agua para riego en el Canal Interceptor Ambiental del Distrito RUT, Colombia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15446/rfnam.v79.120876Keywords:
Water allocation, Agricultural resources, Risk management, Soil salinity, Corrosion (en)Asignación de agua, Recursos agrícolas, Gestión de riesgos, Salinidad del suelo, Corrosión (es)
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The Environmental Interceptor Canal supplies irrigation water to approximately 2,951 ha of agricultural land, primarily using pumped river water and effluents from the municipalities of Roldanillo, La Unión, and Toro's domestic wastewater treatment systems. In response to declining crop productivity, increased operational costs of irrigation systems, and constraints on export activities, this study aimed to evaluate the potential hazards associated with the use of water from this source for agricultural irrigation. Three composite sampling campaigns were conducted at seven points along the canal, and physicochemical and microbiological parameters were analyzed following standardized methodologies. The results revealed four main issues: a high microbiological hazard, evidenced by median fecal coliform (FC) concentrations exceeding 10,000 MPN 100 mL-1; a moderate to high hazard of chemical soil degradation due to the presence of salts and sodium (Na⁺); a high corrosion hazard; and a high hazard of emitter clogging associated with iron (Fe²⁺) concentrations above 1.5 mg L-1 and elevated median concentrations of total suspended solids (TSS). Overall, the results indicate that the water quality of the canal presents significant limitations for agricultural irrigation, highlighting the need to implement management, treatment, and control measures to reduce operational risks, comply with regulatory criteria, and improve the sustainability of irrigation systems and agricultural productivity in the study area.
El Canal Interceptor Ambiental abastece agua de riego a aproximadamente 2,951 ha de uso agrícola, utilizando principalmente agua bombeada de un río y descargas provenientes de los sistemas de tratamiento de aguas residuales domésticas de los municipios de Roldanillo, La Unión y Toro. Ante el descenso de la productividad de los cultivos, el aumento de los costos operativos de los sistemas de riego y las restricciones para la exportación, este estudio tuvo el objetivo de evaluar los peligros potenciales asociados al uso del agua de esta fuente para riego agrícola. Se realizaron tres campañas de muestreo compuesto en siete puntos a lo largo del canal, analizando parámetros fisicoquímicos y microbiológicos conforme a las metodologías estandarizadas. Los resultados evidenciaron cuatro problemáticas principales: un elevado peligro microbiológico, evidenciado por medianas de coliformes fecales (FC) superiores a 10.000 NMP 100 mL-1, medio a alto peligro de degradación química de suelos a causa de la presencia de sales y sodio (Na+), alto peligro por corrosión y alto peligro de taponamiento de emisores de riego debido a la concentración de hierro (Fe2+) mayores a 1,5 mg L-1 y concentraciones medianas elevadas para los sólidos suspendidos totales (SST). En conjunto, los resultados indican que la calidad del agua del canal presenta limitaciones relevantes para su uso en riego agrícola, lo que resalta la necesidad de implementar medidas de manejo, tratamiento y control que permitan reducir los riesgos operativos, cumplir con los criterios regulatorios y mejorar la sostenibilidad de los sistemas de riego y la productividad agrícola en la zona.
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