Evaluation of Water Contamination Caused by Cemeteries in Central Ecuador—A Warning for the Authorities

Abstract

Although cemeteries are sacred sites where decomposing bodies are permanently deposited, until now relatively little attention has been paid to the possibility that they constitute a source of water contamination. The present research intends to evaluate the levels of physicochemical contamination of rivers near ten cemeteries in central Ecuador by analyzing a variety of physicochemical parameters in the field and laboratory during dry and rainy periods. A statistical analysis was conducted, demonstrating that the majority of variables are lacking for regular patterns or homoscedasticity to be demonstrated. Subsequently, an analysis was performed using the Kruskal–Wallis test, concluding that there was no significant difference between sampling sections and periods, but there was between pre-established categories, so for that reason it was decided to work only in the dry season and the results were compared with the EPA regulations, depending on the use of water from each river. It was concluded that there is a high probability of environmental contamination in the river by the cemeteries termed “Not suitable” because they registered greater non-compliance with the maximum permissible limits, while cemeteries categorized as “Completely adequate” had a lower probability of contaminating the water. It is suggested that a normative, globally applicable criterion for the optimal location of cemeteries or final disposal sites be established.