10.7291/D11592
Norris, Timothy
Cordillera Huayhuash Water Quality 2010-2011
Dryad
dataset
2015
Cordillera Huayhuash
Peru
Water quality
National Geographic Society
https://ror.org/04bqh5m06
C171-09
2015-05-06T13:37:08Z
2015-05-06T13:37:08Z
en
http://huaylas.com/cdhuayhuash/mapas.php
18421 bytes
1
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
The Cordillera Huayhuash is the second highest mountain range in the
Peruvian Andes and is important for tourism, mining, and local
livelihoods. These three economic activities all share an interest in the
water quality of the over 50 lakes and associated drainages that exist in
the region. Water quality monitoring can help ease tensions between
interests from these distinct economic sectors. This dataset reports on
two rounds of water quality sampling and testing performed at 56
identified monitoring stations in 2010 and 2011. Several additional spot
samples were taken in both years. At each monitoring station field
measures such as temperature, pH, and conductivity were taken and samples
were collected for laboratory analysis of elemental concentrations (metals
and others) and field analysis of biological contamination (enterococcus).
The results show contamination from mining activities, from tourism
activities and from natural sources. The data is in a comma separated
value (CSV) format with two flat files: "Pruebas.csv" contains
the measurements of all parameters for each sample;
"Estaciones.csv" contains a list of monitoring stations with
geographic coordinates; "README.csv" contains the data
dictionaries and other metadata (description) for both of the flat files.
Two rounds of water quality sampling and testing were performed in 2010
and 2011 at 56 identified monitoring stations in the Cordillera Huayhuash,
Peru. Several additional spot samples were taken in both 2010 and 2011.
The selection of monitoring stations was guided by several criteria. At
least two monitoring stations were identified per watershed; one at the
headwaters (slightly downstream from a trekking camp if possible) and one
near the confluence with the neighboring watershed. One monitoring station
was identified at the source of drinking water for each community.
Additional monitoring stations were identified as potential sites of
contamination from mining activities. All of the monitoring station
identification met Peruvian Ministry of Energy and Mines published
protocols (MEM, 1994. Protocolo de Monitoreo de Calidad de Aguas. Lima,
Peru: Ministerio de Energia y Minas). Samples were collected during April
and May across two consecutive years; 51 stations in 2010 and 36 stations
in 2011 of which 32 stations were used both years (see stations.csv).
Field measurements were made for temperature, pH, conductivity, salinity,
total dissolved solids, and dissolved oxygen with two distinct field
instruments (the Oakton Instruments PCSTester35 multi-parameter tester and
the Oakton Instruments ExStik® DO600 oxygen meter respectively). The
American Public Health Association (APHA) methods 9222 and 9230 (APHA,
2005. Standard methods for the examination of water and waste water, 21st
edition. American Public Health Association, American Water Works
Association & Water Environment Federation: Baltimore, Port City
Press) were followed for the analysis of fecal coliforms (Enterococcus
spp.) in the field. Each measured sample was filtered with a 0.45 micron
gridded filter. Each filter was then incubated at approximately 44.5° C
for twenty four hours on Agar specially formulated for Enterococcus
growth. The number of colonies that appeared was counted and a most
probable number (MPN) was calculated using the number of colonies observed
and the amount of water originally filtered. In 2010 split filtered (0.45
micron) and unfiltered samples were collected for heavy metal analysis at
each monitoring station and in 2011 only unfiltered samples were
collected. Across both years ½ liter was used as the sample volume. The
collection bottles were provided by the laboratory and were guaranteed to
be clean (according to EPA protocols detailed below). The collection of
samples in the field followed the EPA protocols published in each method
detailed below. In 2010 the unfiltered sample was analyzed for dissolved
mercury (Hg) concentrations in a laboratory in Lima (EnviroLab S.A.C)
using EPA method 1631 (Cold Vapor Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry) (EPA,
2002. Method 1631, Revision E: Mercury in Water by Oxidation, Purge and
Trap, and Cold Vapor Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry. Baltimore: United
States Environmental Protection Agency). The Mercury measurement was not
repeated the second year as no sample from 2010 yielded a positive result
and no new sources of mercury were identified. In 2010 the unfiltered
sample was analyzed for a full run of elemental concentrations (As, Ba,
Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Tl, V, Zn, Ag, B, Bi, Ca, Fe,
K, Li, Mg, Na, P, Si, Sn, Sr, and Ti) with the EPA 200.8 method
(inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) (EPA, 1994. Method 200.8
Determination of trace elements in waters and wastes by inductively
coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Cincinnati: United States Environmental
Protection Agency). In 2011 the elemental analysis was narrowed to
aluminum (Al), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn),
nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) based on the results from 2010.