Estudio isotópico de las fuentes de agua superficiales y subterráneas en la microcuenca del río Chibunga, y sus zonas de influencia: Línea Base

Abstract

The aim of this research was to determine the isotopic and hydrochemical concentration of surface and underground water sources in the Chibunga River micro-basin and its influence areas. A baseline was established for water sources such as springs, wells, river points and lagoons. Diagrams and geographic information systems were used in the results obtained to see how ground water recharge occurs. Seventy-eight water source points were studied, including fifteen wells, ten lagoons, 39 springs, six river points and eight rain collectors. Thirty-six representative points with high electrical conductivity values were chosen for the isotopic (deuterium and oxygen 18) and hydrochemical analysis, The results reflected a stationary change in the isotopic composition of precipitation, the light values of deuterium are associated with the melting of Chimborazo Volcano glaciers, two groups of different isotopic composition are evidenced, the first group has depleted water which corresponds to lagoons, wells, river points; The hydrochemical results classified the samples as calcium-magnesium bicarbonate and sodium-potassium bicarbonate, since they are groundwater, springs from the melting glaciers of the Chimborazo volcano, which feed the aquifers in the lower basin of the river through their fractures and porosity, two wells are sulfate-calcium and magnesium chloride, it is because they are in agricultural areas with high concentrations of nitrates used in fertilizers and which are then infiltrated into aquifers, heavy metals were analyzed specially lead but none of the samples exceed the permissible limits. It is recommended to continue monitoring isotopes in rain with the creation of new policies for the protection and conservation of the Andean paramo.