Context:

The formation of illegal housing conglomerates, in most cases, without adequate basic sanitation, can lead to deterioration of natural resources. The aim of this study was to evaluate the environmental impact associated with the urban sewage discharge (USD) on ground and water bodies in an illegal urban agglomeration in the Villavicencio municipality.

Methodology:

From 15 sampling points, physicochemical parameters of water were determined: solids series, turbidity, color, chemical oxygen demand (COD), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen (DO), and soil: pH, EC, cation exchange capacity (CEC) and C, N and trace elements concentration, to relate and identify the impacts on resources in the study area.

Results:

The USD samples presented high values in parameters such as turbidity (326 NTU), color (744 UPC) and crude COD that ranged from 600 to 1500 mg L-1. In the water bodies surrounding the sector, the COD varied between 368 and 429 mg L-1. Likewise, DO ranged from 5,7 to 7,1 mg L-1, values that were favorable for the channels, however, they were low for the USD (0,9 mg L-1). On the other hand, a significant alteration was determined in soil physicochemical properties such as pH (5,8-8,2), CEC (8,2-16,8 mEq-g 100 g-1), EC (57,6- 517,3 µS cm-1) and N (0,03-0,84 mg Kg-1) mainly associated with discharges.

Conclusions:

It was possible to identify a negative effect on water and soil resources, generated by uncontrolled discharges of USD in the place, which is related to a loss of environmental services and low life quality.