Palermo Sociedad Portuari commissioned a study to analyze 20 physical, chemical, and microbiological parameters between 2016 and 2023, using a set of pollution indices (WQI, ICOMI, ICOMO, ICOSUS, ICOTRO, and ICOpH), along with statistical tools such as two-way ANOVA, Spearman correlation, and principal component analysis (PCA). This analysis provides a solid scientific basis for understanding the dynamics of water quality in port environments and contributes to closing knowledge gaps in the ecological management of river-port ecosystems in Colombia. The outcomes were published in the form of a scientific paper “Surface water quality of the Magdalena River in the Colombian Caribbean: future solutions for treatment wastewaters” in the prestigious scientific journal Environmental Science and Pollution Research, in June 2025.
As a port, we rigorously assess the impact of human activities on the Magdalena River ecosystem. The study demonstrated, validated by scientific evidence, that Palermo Port Society’s operations do not generate negative impacts on the river’s natural conditions, thanks to rigorous, preventive, and ongoing environmental management. We operate without discharges into the water and maintain an effective separation between our activities and the river ecosystem. The main controls implemented include: permanent housekeeping, sweeping and cleaning of the dock, installation of tarps and protectors to contain cargo on land, preventive maintenance of box culverts, periodic monitoring of water and air quality, and the availability of emergency response teams. These actions have been instrumental in preserving the river’s ecological integrity.
The port maintains continuous environmental surveillance, monitoring parameters at two upstream and downstream control points to identify critical pollution factors. The port’s motivation stems from its leadership in the responsible handling of multipurpose cargo, which inspired a partnership with academic institutions in Colombia and Brazil to conduct the first multi-temporal and multi-parameter analysis of surface water quality near a river port terminal. The study becomes a useful tool for optimizing port logistics by integrating environmental variables into operational decision-making, offering a validated and replicable methodology that promotes a port vision focused on ecosystem protection. This scientific milestone marks a turning point in the way ports can actively contribute to environmental knowledge, transforming logistics operations into an opportunity for conservation, sustainability, and science.