As part of the “El Seguro” mining project developed by Impulsa Mendoza within the Malargüe Western Mining District, a participatory environmental monitoring activity focused on water resources was carried out as part of the company’s territorial engagement and transparency strategy.
The activity brought together local stakeholders, technical teams and representatives from public agencies, who participated in surface water sampling activities and observed the monitoring procedures. Initiatives such as this aim to bring communities closer to the environmental processes associated with projects under development, promoting direct understanding of the methodologies applied and the technical standards used.
The monitoring activities were conducted in watercourses located near the exploration area, including the Pachico stream and the El Seguro stream, which were selected as representative monitoring points based on their location, hydrological conditions and relationship with the project’s area of influence.
During the fieldwork, participants observed the different stages of the sampling process, including the identification and georeferencing of monitoring points using GPS technology, environmental characterization and the in situ measurement of physical and chemical parameters. Water samples were collected following standardized protocols that included the use of appropriate containers, preservation techniques, labeling procedures, chain-of-custody documentation and controlled transport conditions in order to ensure traceability and data quality.
Among the parameters evaluated in the field were pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen and salinity. The collected samples will later be analyzed in laboratories using recognized techniques for the determination of chemical compounds and metals under standards designed to guarantee the reliability of the results.
Prior to the monitoring activities, participants attended a technical training session focused on sampling procedures, equipment operation, safety conditions and data interpretation criteria, with the objective of ensuring informed and active participation throughout the process.
Impulsa Mendoza CEO Sebastián Piña stated that “these initiatives are part of a broader strategy aimed at strengthening transparency, facilitating access to environmental information and promoting community participation in project monitoring processes”.
The results of the analyses will be processed by specialized technical teams and later shared with participants through feedback sessions. In addition, the information is expected to be published through institutional channels in line with the objective of guaranteeing public access to generated data and strengthening trust in environmental monitoring processes.
The initiative forms part of a participatory environmental monitoring framework designed to integrate local stakeholders into the monitoring of sensitive variables such as water quality, consolidating management practices that combine technical rigor, transparency and public participation.