Impact of the Bogotá River on the microbiological quality of the water of the Magdalena River, municipality of Flandes (Tolima)

Abstract

The basin of the Bogotá River is considered the most polluted basin in Colombia due to the discharge of wastewater from a population of over 7 million inhabitants. These waters that flow into the right bank of the Magdalena River -the main national fluvial artery- deteriorate their quality and potential putting at risk the health of a vast population of the central region of the country that is supplied with this water source for human consumption, irrigation and primary contact. This research evaluated the impact of the Bogotá River in the microbiological contamination of the Magdalena River that serves as a source of supply for the urban aqueduct in the municipality of Flandes, Department of Tolima, during the occurrence of El Niño phenomenon between 2015 and 2016. Samplings were completed at 4 strategic points from microbiological tests carried out in the Magdalena River section containing the area before the mouth of the Bogota River to the catchment of the urban aqueduct of Flandes during two different seasons, the dry season in the month of February 2016, and the rainy season in April 2016. It was concluded that it is a very poor source of supply for human consumption based on the microbiological contamination that the Bogota River adds especially in the dry season, affecting the quality of the water collected by the aqueduct of Flandes that may imply a health risk, requiring the incorporation of new processes in its treatment system in a short-term to guarantee the removal of the microbiological load.