Análisis de la calidad de agua de la microcuenca del río Alcacay como herramienta de gestión de los recursos hídricos

Abstract

The water quality of the watershed of the Alcacay river can be affected by different human activities that are carried out in the area. These represents a risk to the population of the lower part. Therefore, to carry out this study is fundamental because the water of the watershed is destined for the consumption of the population in the cantonal center of Sígsig. This research aims to analyse the quality of water at different altitude levels of the watershed, which may be influenced by agricultural activities. For this, four sampling points were determined in the river based on the use of soil. Subsequently, information was raised in the area to know the variables that can influence the quality of water by means of surveys. Then, three monitoring was carried out in the months of September (dry season 44.38 mm), October and November (rainy season 56.6-121.12 mm). The National sanitation Foundation Water quality index (ICA-NSF) was applied to determine the water quality at the specified points. It is verified if there is a relation of the variables atmospheric pressure, temperature and altitude with the ICA. Finally, on the basis of the results, measures of control and mitigation of the impacts caused to the water by this activity were raised. The results obtained from the ICA-NSF ranged from 61.28 to 72.07. The values obtained indicate that the water quality oscillates between medium and good. However, the quality that predominates is medium in most of the monitoring points. The most influential parameter was fecal coliforms, reaching an extreme value of 920 NMP/100ml in the rainy season. However, the other parameters except for the biochemical demand for oxygen, nitrates and total phosphorus, increase as the altitude of the watershed decreases. From the variables analyzed with respect to ICA, the ambient temperature is the variable that can influence the ICA with 45.6%.