Accumulation of Metals in Water and Sediment of Cotarsaya Dam

Water and sediment samples were analyzed at four points during the rainy and dry seasons. The results obtained were compared with Peruvian and Canadian environmental standards. The concentration of metals in water does not exceed the detection limits; no cadmium is present in sediments; the concentration of arsenic in stations N°1 (58 mg/kg), N°2 (52 mg/kg) exceeds the maximum limits established by the Canadian standard (6 mg/kg) and the Peruvian ECA (50 mg/kg); Mercury exceeds the limits established by the Canadian standard (0.2 mg/kg) at stations N°3 (0.3 mg/kg) and N°4 (0.4 mg/kg); lead is within the limits allowed by the Canadian standard (35 mg/kg) and the Peruvian ECA (70 mg/kg).