Evaluación de la calidad de agua del río Tuna, tramo de la comunidad maría auxiliadora, mediante la identificación de macro invertebrados bentónicos como bioindicadores en el cantón Huamboya provincia de Morona Santiago

Abstract

This Project aims to determine the water quality of Tuna river, by identifying the macroinvertebrates, through the Biological Monitoring Working Party index of Colombia (BMWP/Col), supported by the River Habitat Index (RHI) and the physicist-chemical Water Quality Index (WQI) of NSF. Three monitoring stations were determined, and a sample was obtained monthly for three months. A physicist-chemical analysis was conducted in situ by measuring the temperature, DO and pH; whereas, BOD5, phosphates, nitrates, ETS, faecal coliforms and turbidity were analyzed in the laboratory. The RHI index valuations were handled directly in each station, creating a GOOD quality regarding its criteria during the monitoring period. As a result, BMWP/Col index shows an ACCEPTABLE water quality with reference to station PT-1 and PT-3 for the three-months period, except PT-2, which indicates a DOUBTFUL quality in July and an ACCEPTABLE one in May and June. Furthermore, WQI index results of NSF recorded as a REGULAR water quality in each station. The descriptive comparison between BMWP/Col index and WQI index of NSF show a significantly difference as per the space-time relationship that the macroinvertebrates index yields; whereas the WQI (NSF) reflects just only the results obtained through the 9 parameters, which were taken that day specifically. In conclusion, the water quality is considered acceptable according to the three applied indexes. It is recommended continuous monitoring through the tributary to identify the anthropogenic activities, which disrupt the water quality and develop abilities to raise awareness about the possible consequences.