干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

The Mendoza River irrigates the province’s northern oasis, where the population of Greater Mendoza is concentrated. Urban growth has encroached upon, surrounded and traversed originally agricultural land with an intricate network of irrigation canals and drains, and urban storm drainage collectors.

In order to analyze the evolution of water quality in the basin, sampling sites were strategically selected: three sampling points (RI to Rill) along the river starting at the Cipolletti diversion dam; five sampling points along the canal system (CI to CV); and seven sampling points at drainage collectors (DI to DVII). The samples were tested for temperature, pH, soluble and solid ions (suspended, settleable (10 minutes), total, fixed and volatile). The drainage system samples were tested for only the first three parameters. Statistical methodology included descriptive, inferential and spatial analyses of each variable.

No differences in pH and total volatile solids were found between sampling points; however, differences were observed in the other variables, in general between Rill and RII with respect to RI. While samples from canals and RI exhibit no differences as regards carbonates and total volatile solids, differences are found in all the other variables.