Evaluación de la calidad del recurso hídrico de la microcuenca del río Blanco, parroquia Quimiag-cantón Riobamba Ecuador, para la elaboración de un plan de manejo ambiental

Abstract

The aim of the research was to evaluate the water resource quality of Rio Blanco micro-watershed in order to implement an environmental management plan for its conservation. First of all, an environmental baseline of the resource was defined establishing the biotic factors based on the direct observation of the area as well as previous research. For the analysis of the biotic factors, it was necessary to evaluate the water quality by analyzing microbiological and physical-chemical parameters, which were analyzed in the Water Quality Laboratory, belonging to the Faculty of Science of Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo. For this, 3 monitoring points were defined, the first one was located in the intake area, the second one was located at the entrance of the tunnel and the third one was located in Guntús. These samples were collected and analyzed twice, 30 days apart to verify the results. To identify the environmental impacts, it was necessary to develop the Leopold Matrix, reaching a positive value of 29, which revealed the absence of significant negative environmental impacts. Based on this result, an Environmental Management Plan for the water resource conservation was implemented, this aims to provide an important working tool for the right development of anthropogenic activities carried out in the micro-watershed. At the same time, four subplans were also implemented: one for the Natural Resource Management; one for Environmental Training and Education; one for Sustainable Local Economic Development and Environmental Monitoring, each of them with the corresponding Environmental aspect, Objective, Actions to be carried out, Verification Instruments, Compliance Indicator and Responsible parties. Finally, this research will be used as a technical tool for the decision-making process by the authorities in the conservation and protection of the water sources in the micro-watershed.