Evaluación de la calidad de agua subterránea en pozos empíricos mediante el índice de calidad de agua ICA-NSF en la comunidad Chiriapa Amazonas, cantón Morona

Abstract

The objective of the research was to evaluate the groundwater quality in empirical wells through the ICA-NSF water quality index in the Chiriapa Amazonas community, located in Morona County by determining physicochemical and microbiological parameters. To start, three monitoring activities were carried out during the months of December (2021) and January (2022) in the five points identified for sampling. It applied the methodology described in the Standard Methods book for the determination of the nine parameters established in the ICA-NSF under the procedures stipulated in the Ecuadorian technical standard INEN 2 226:00 named: “AGUA. CALIDAD DEL AGUA, DISEÑO LOS PROGRAMAS DE MUESTREO.”, both for in situ variables: hydrogen potential, temperature and dissolved oxygen as well as for ex situ variables: fecal coliforms, biochemical oxygen demand, nitrates, phosphates, turbidity and total dissolved solids. The results indicated that the water quality of point PE1 was REGULAR, being this a constant result in the three monitoring. On the other hand, in the points: PE2, PE3, PE4 and PE5 the water quality was BAD, with weights lower than 51. Through the use of the IQ-data software concluded that the fecal coliform variables and dissolved oxygen were the most influential for the deterioration of water quality in this area. Finally, it is recommended the application of an adequate conventional disinfection treatment for the water of the wells studied, besides a complementary study which includes the identification of the sources of contamination and their evolution over time.