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Water quality evaluation of two urban streams in Northwest Uruguay: are national regulations for urban stream quality sufficient?

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment volume 192, Article number: 661 (2020) Cite this article

A Correction to this article was published on 14 October 2020

This article has been updated

Abstract

Poor water quality in urban streams places at risk the health of urban residents and the integrity of urban environments, ultimately leading to the “urban stream syndrome.” In response to growing concerns regarding urban streams in Uruguay, we evaluated the spatiotemporal variation in water quality parameters in two urban streams, the Ceibal and La Curtiembre streams, over 12–18 months. A proposal for an Urban Water Quality Index (UWQI) was developed based on national water quality standards for two stream classes to assess variability in overall stream condition over time. Both streams displayed extremely high levels of fecal coliform concentrations in mid-downstream sites and relatively high levels of total dissolved phosphorus and ammonia well above the national standards of 0.025 mg/L and 0.02 mg/L, respectively. Nitrate was consistently below the national maximum of 44.3 mg/L, calling to question the adequacy of this standard for designated uses. Over 40% of samples had oxygen levels below the national standard of 5 mg/L, and a dead zone (average 1.5 mg/L) was detected in the downstream reach of the La Curtiembre stream. Despite differences in land use and urban context, monthly observations of nutrients and coliforms indicated high levels of contamination in mid-downstream reaches, which could present a health risk for the populations in Paysandú and Salto. This study highlights the degradation of urban streams in two major cities in Uruguay and the need for a comparative diagnosis of stream condition as a basis for decision-making regarding urban development and water resources.

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Change history

  • 14 October 2020

    The original version of this article unfortunately contained an error in the published paper.

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Acknowledgments

We thank for their support the Núcleo Interdisciplinario Agua y Ciudad; the Government of the Paysandu Department, Barrio Casa Molle—Paysandu; and Prof. Julian Ramos from Departamento del Agua for Ceibal sampling collaboration and Prof. Cecilia Papalardo from Departamento de Matemática for statistical collaboration, both from Universidad de la República, CENUR Litoral Norte Uruguay, as well as Claudia Fosalba for the nutrient water analysis from Departmento de Ecología y Gestión Ambiental, Universidad de la República, CURE.

This work was supported by the Universidad de la República—Espacio Interdisciplinario and Comisión Sectorial de Investigación Cientifica (CSIC).

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Departamento del Agua, Universidad de la República, University Center of Salto, 1350, Salto, Rivera, Uruguay

    Elena Alvareda, Christine Lucas, Pablo Gamazo, Vanessa Erasun, Paola Russo, Andres Saracho, Rafael Banega & Gonzalo Sapriza

  2. Polo de Ecología Fluvial, Universidad de la República, University Center of Paysandu, Paysandu, Uruguay

    Christine Lucas

  3. Unidad de Gestión Ambiental, Paysandu Municipal Government, Sarandí esq. Zorrilla de San Martín., 60000, Paysandú, Uruguay

    Mercedes Paradiso

  4. Facultad de Arquitectura Diseño y Urbanismo, Universidad de la República, Br. Artigas, 1031, Montevideo, Uruguay

    Adriana Piperno

  5. Departmento de Ecología y Gestión Ambiental, Universidad de la República, CURE Tacuarembó, 20100, Maldonado, Uruguay

    Franco Teixeira de Mello

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  1. Elena Alvareda
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Correspondence to Elena Alvareda.

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Alvareda, E., Lucas, C., Paradiso, M. et al. Water quality evaluation of two urban streams in Northwest Uruguay: are national regulations for urban stream quality sufficient?. Environ Monit Assess 192, 661 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-020-08614-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-020-08614-6

Keywords

  • Urban stream
  • Water pollution
  • Basin characterization
  • Water quality index