Natural arsenic occurrence in drinking water and assessment of water quality in the southern part of the Poopó lake basin, Bolivian Altiplano

M. Ormachea Muñoz, L. Huallpara, E. Blanco Coariti, J. L. García Aróstegui, C. Kohfahl, M. C. Hidalgo Estévez, P. Bhattacharya

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Drinking water quality and the presence of natural arsenic (As) were studied in a rural, less developed area of the southern part of the Poopó lake basin in the Central Bolivian Altiplano. People in this area use untreated surface- and ground-water directly as drinking water. Water is extracted from excavated wells and from few rivers occasionally present during the rainy season. Forty-one wells and seven different sites along four rivers were sampled as they are common sources for drinking water. The main characteristics of the sampled waters showed a slightly alkaline pH, high electrical conductivity and high salinity where the principal components were sodium, chloride and bicarbonate. Arsenic concentrations reached values up to 623 μg L -1 exceeding the current WHO guideline value (10 μg L -1) in all rivers and in ninety-five percent of the sampled wells. Heavy metals and other trace elements showed relatively low concentrations.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationOne Century of the Discovery of Arsenicosis in Latin America (1914-2014)
Subtitle of host publicationAs 2014 - Proceedings of the 5th International Congress on Arsenic in the Environment
PublisherCRC Press/Balkema
Pages154-156
Number of pages3
ISBN (Print)9781138001411
DOIs
StatePublished - 2014
Event5th International Congress on Arsenic in the Environment, As 2014 - Buenos Aires, Argentina
Duration: 11 May 201416 May 2014

Publication series

NameOne Century of the Discovery of Arsenicosis in Latin America (1914-2014): As 2014 - Proceedings of the 5th International Congress on Arsenic in the Environment

Conference

Conference5th International Congress on Arsenic in the Environment, As 2014
Country/TerritoryArgentina
CityBuenos Aires
Period11/05/1416/05/14

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