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JEH Volume 9 (2001), Paper 5, February 2001
Posted February 28, 2001
A SIMPLE METHODOLOGY FOR ASSESSING GROUNDWATER RELATED
ENVIRONMENTAL RISK IN SALLIQUELÓ TOWN, ARGENTINA
Fabio Peluso
José González Castelain
Eduardo Usunoff
Instituto de Hidrología de Llanuras, Azul, Buenos Aires Province,
Argentina
ABSTRACT
This paper presents an environmental risk-analysis methodology,
as applied to water re-sources, for Salliqueló City (10,000 inhabitants),
Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. The analysis proposes the existence of
a potentially dangerous source (groundwater used for direct consumption),
and its uncertain effects on some component of the environmental system
(the people, in this case). The methodology was based on results of a polynomial
expression, which was evaluated for each unit area (block). Such an equation
considers complex forms for the source, the exposure, and the targets.
The resulting values were then transformed into a chromatic scale of ten
levels of severity, from low risk (cold colors) to high-risk scores (hot
colors). The source was characterized from hydrochemical and bacteriological
data, and the number of cesspools per unit area. The exposure took into
account the access to safe water supply, as well as socio-economic variables
(awareness to exposure, educational level, quality of household, special
risky groups). The targets were simply computed as the quantity of people
per unit area. It should be pointed out that the evaluation was done for
the actual situation, and the scenario 15 years from now due to population
growth. The methodology presented is a trade-off between scientifically-sound
techniques and simplicity/low cost/data requirements, the latter being
the current needs of water resources managers in the Salliqueló
City.
Reference: Peluso, F., J. González and E. Usunoff; A
Simple Methodology for Assessing Groundwater Related Environmental Risk
in Salliqueló Town, Argentina, Journal of Environmental Hydrology,
Vol. 9, Paper 5, February 2001.
CONTACT:
Fabio Peluso
Instituto de Hidrologia des Llanuras
CC 44
7300 Azul (Pcia Buenos Aires)
Argentina
Email: ihlla@faa.unicen.edu.ar