Analysis of mercury and arsenic in drinking water in Bogota DC (Colombia) in 2010 and 2011

摘要

In Bogota, Colombia, the District Department of Health ensures potable water consumption, and performs special tests for arsenic and mercury in rural aqueducts in the periphery of the city. These elements are important chemical parameters to monitor the quality of drinking water in the water supply network of the city. We analyzed 319 samples during the last half of 2010 and the first half of 2011 as a requirement of the Regulation 1575 of 2007. In the 99.38% of the samples, arsenic was no detectable, and the remaining 0.62% was below the reference value (0.01 mg L~(-1)). Regarding to mercury, out of 319 water samples that were analyzed, in 274 (85%) the element was not detectable, and in 45 (15%) results were close to the reference value. In conclusion, the water samples analyzed for mercury and arsenic in 2010 and 2011 yielded no detectable levels that may affect the health of the population in Bogota.