Water quality and heavy metal levels in the Sinú River, a drinking water source in the Colombian Caribbean

The objective of this work was to evaluate water quality in the Sinú River northern Colombia, duringits dry and rainy seasons. index (WQI), heavy metal pollution (HPI),the evaluation (HEI), toxicity load (HMTL), degree ofcontamination (Cd) were calculated based on analyses samples taken along entire lengthof river at sixteen sampling sites. Comprehensive some cases punctual samplings wereperformed depending morphology current. Five carried out andrainy periods from March 2008 April 2009. All triplicate each samplingsite. For determination metals, a Thermo electron atomic absorption spectrometer, modelS4AA System used. Of metals monitored, only zinc, iron, manganese identified atquantifiable levels, with average values 8.5 x 10⁻⁵ kg m-3, 0.004 424 m-3 8.5x10⁻⁵ m-3,respectively season. obtained altogether (WQI =63.5, HPI=145, HEI=24, HMTL=0.1329, Cd= 20.8) revealed presence contamination by River, although observed level does not imply hazard human health.