Abstract

ZAMORA ECHENIQUE, Gerardo  and  CALVO VACA, Juan Antonio. Proposal for the environmental rehabilitation of Lake Uru Uru. REV. MAMYM [online]. 2021, vol.6, n.1, pp.3-16. ISSN 2519-5352.

Abstract For several centuries, the mining and mineral processing industry has been the basis of the economy of the department of Oruro in Bolivia, and apparently, it will continue to be so for the foreseeable future, and these efforts, over many years, have made a considerable damage to the environment. Specifically, in this research work, the effects of heavy metal pollution and urban wastewater on the quality of water, soils, sediments and plant species of Lake Uru Uru are presented; as well as the possibilities for its recovery through plant phytoremediation. In this context, in principle the physical and chemical characteristics of the ecosystems of Lake Uru Uru are described, and then a detailed description of the vegetation of the area is made, both of the different existing ecosystems, and of the plant associations. On the other hand, the current situation of the area is described, showing the different problems that affect the soil and vegetation (contamination by heavy metals, salinity of the lake, excessive exploitation of plant resources, soil compaction, etc.) and the consequences that human actions have on these elements of the ecosystem. Subsequently, the five plant species (thola, quinoa, cattail, yarrow and kauchi) are described in detail, which due to their adaptive ecological characteristics, can be used in phytoremediation. Finally, the different actions that must be taken into account to improve the quality of the water are established (control in the discharge of the wastewater of Oruro and of the water of the San José mine; in addition to an adequate management of the inflow of water). waters to the lake, especially when increases in evaporation losses are generated, which can be compensated with the discharge of suitably treated domestic water), the use of amendments in the soil for its decontamination by phyto-adsorption and stabilization (use of organic matter, gypsum and limestone), on the air (control of emissions from the Metallurgical Company of Vinto); and finally, the increase in the plant population of the five selected species, in order to improve the quality of the waters, in addition to increasing the biodiversity of the Lake Uru Uru area, and without forgetting to promote the need of the population local to use its resources.

Keywords : Environmental Rehabilitation; Lake Uru Uru.

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