Evaluación de la calidad del agua potable del sistema de abastecimiento de la ciudad de Macas - Ecuador en el año 2022

Abstract

The objective of the study was to evaluate the quality of drinking water in the supply system located in the Macas city through physicochemical and microbiological analysis by sampling different neighborhoods of the city. The research work used the methodology by reviewing plans of infrastructure of the supply system, and with the help of the AutoCAD program identified the main materials used with reinforced concrete in the treatment plants and storage tanks; while in the distribution network is formed by pipes of different diameters and material such as: asbestos cement and PVC. For the selection of the sampling points, it took into account the neighborhoods chosen by the Municipal Government with the highest number of drinking water analysis records. The study was developed by taking water samples at eight different sampling points over a period of three months (May, June and July 2022) with an interval of one month for each sample. The study consists in the analysis of ten parameters such as: turbidity, pH, temperature, residual free chlorine, copper, fluorides, nitrates, nitrites, Monochloramines and fecal coliforms; being analyzed with methods under the NTE-INEN 1108_2014 standard, and the results compared with the permissible limits of the same standard. Through the results of the analyses, it was found that the turbidity parameter is above the permissible limit with a total value in the supply system of 9.33 NTU, and in the Jimbitono PTAP with turbidity values of 12.13 NTU, pH 5.67, and residual free chlorine of 3.11 mg/L. Finally, it is recommended the construction of settling tanks before the treated water enters into the supply system in order to reduce the values of the parameters analyzed.