File:ESTUDIO FISICOQUÍMICO Y BACTERIOLÓGICO DEL RÍO MANZANAE,ESTADO SUCRE, VENEZUELA.pdf

The Manzanares River is one of the most important bodies of water in northeastern Venezuela. However, avast influx of industrial and domestic sewage from farm and urban dwellings enters the river without much control by thepertinent authorities. To ascertain the environmental quality of the river 45 sampling sites were set throughout the areacomprising the high, middle, and low-lying areas of the river basin during three different periods, namely, rainy season (2003),transitional period (2003), and dry season (2004). The parameters monitored and measured following APHA-AWWA-WPCFstandards were: temperature (18.3 – 30.0°C), pH (6.04 – 8.88), dissolved oxygen (1.7 – 7.0 mg.L-1k), nitrogen (11 – 188μmol.1-1) and phosphorus compounds (nondetectable – 22 μmol.1-1), silicates (8 – 260 μmol.1-1), and fecal coliforms (1 – 2.4· 107 MPN/100 mL). All parameters yielded differences in the three watersheds and the three seasons. The low-lying arearesulted most affected. Nitrates and nitrites were the prevailing inorganic matter, in consonance with a high presence of fecalcoliforms, profuse decomposed organic matter, and warmer temperatures. Results attest to the poor environmental quality ofthe Manzanares River, the waters of which being unsuited for human exposure.