Quality of fog-water artificially collected in the Pixquiac watershed, Veracruz, Mexico: preliminary results

Abstract

In order to determine if artificially collected water fog in the mountainous located in central the region of Veracruz state is suitable for human consumption; a preliminary sampling was made, from January to March (2010), the period with more fog frequency. The objective was to analyze the physical, chemical and biological aspects concerning water quality. It was found that this water is not suitable for direct human consumption, since it contains heavy metals such as mercury, coliform organisms and high amounts of ammonia nitrogen, though it is suitable for direct use in agriculture. However, it is possible to apply a sanitation treatment for human use at a cost of 0.00341 USD L-1 not including the labor cost neither the necessary infrastructure. Various causes can lead to this water pollution are discussed and it is concluded that collected fog water is not suitable for human consumption, but it might be used for agriculture.