Estudio de variabilidad de la calidad del agua en los ríos Arracaches, Chontas, La Chiral y la Honda, mediante el ICA-NSF.

Abstract

It was determined the variability of the water quality of rivers Arracaches, Chontas, La Chiral and La Honda, canton Piñas, El Oro province, through the use of the Water Quality Index of the National Sanitation Foundation (WQI-NSF), in principle was made the characterization of the channels, the calculation of the WQI-NSF value and statistical analysis relevant. Settled 3 sampling points on each of the rivers in study, determined the flow of water in each course monitoring, in the place was measured the parameters Potential of Hydrogen, Total Dissolved Solids and Temperature, it took an additional point sample at each point, with the purpose of performing analysis outside the parameters Dissolved Oxygen, Biochemical Oxygen Demand, Nitrates, Phosphates, Turbidity and Fecal Coliforms, this was done with a monthly frequency between October 2017 and January 2018. Once obtained the entire data set for the calculations were performed to quantify the WQI-NSF value and subsequently applying techniques of descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis, through the statistical analysis was established differences and/or similarities between the studied variables. The WQI-NSF value average in the river Arracaches is 83.91 occupying the lowest value, for its part, La Honda river presents 84.65, followed the river La Chiral with 86.53 and the river Chontas presents 86.86, this being the value more representative in the contribution of water quality. According to the qualitative weighing proposed by the WQI-NSF, the water of the rivers is good; however, it is affected by the presence of livestock activities that contribute with pathogenic microorganisms to water courses, it is necessary to implement an integrated management plan with a continuous monitoring in rivers in study, which facilitates its protection.