The Martín Peña Channel is part of the watershed that forms the San Juan Bay Estuary in Puerto Rico. Spanning 3.75 miles, it connects San Juan Bay to the San José Lagoon. Years of inadequate construction along its edges have led to obstruction and contamination. Today, residents face severe challenges due to the lack of sewage and stormwater drainage, resulting in frequent flooding, even during low rainfall events. Flooding increases the risk of waterborne diseases, respiratory issues, gastrointestinal diseases, and illnesses caused by pathogens from contaminated water.
This study aims to identify and assess the frequency of flooding events within the Martin Peña Channel. To achieve this goal, in collaboration with EPA, 33 pendant waterproof temperature/light data loggers and two HOBO water level loggers were deployed in the channel. The pendants were strategically placed in flood-prone areas, while the water level loggers were positioned at the channel’s inlet and outlet. Data has been collected every five months over the past 18 months and is currently being analyzed using HOBOware software. The analysis will correlate rainfall events with light levels recorded by the pendants.
Findings will be presented in a map highlighting device locations and flood-prone areas, facilitating the identification of high-risk zones. These results will be crucial for community well-being, informing future infrastructure improvements and public health policies for the Martín Peña residents and environmental agencies.