Water Storage–Discharge Relationship with Water Quality Parameters of Carhuacocha and Vichecocha Lagoons in the Peruvian Puna Highlands

Abstract

Most Andean lakes and lagoons are used as reservoirs to manage hydropower generation and cropland irrigation, which, in turn, alters river flow patterns through processes of storage and discharge. The Carhuacocha and Vichecocha lagoons, fed by glaciers, are important aquatic ecosystems regulated by dams. These dams increase the flow of the Mantaro River during the dry season, supporting both energy production and irrigation for croplands. Water quality in the Carhuacocha and Vichecocha lagoons was assessed between storage and discharge events by using the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index (CCME WQI) and multivariate statistical methods. The quality of both lagoons is excellent during the storage period; however, it decreases when they are discharged during the dry season. The most sensitive parameters are pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). This paper details the changes in water quality in the Carhuacocha and Vichecocha lagoons during storage and discharge events.