Determinación de la calidad de agua de consumo en la zona sur de las comunidades telempala, chiquicaz, chamboloma, bayubug y la merced de guiltus pertenecientes a la parroquia calpi de la Provincia de Chimborazo

Abstract

The present work of curricular integration was carried out with the objective of determining the quality of drinking water in the communities of Telempala, Chiquicaz, Chamboloma, Bayubug and La Merced de Guiltus, belonging to the southern area of the parish of Calpi, province of Chimborazo. Physicochemical and microbiological characterization of the raw water was carried out, which was sampled at different points of the distribution network in the area and at different times of the year. Laboratory tests were carried out based on Hach methods and the techniques established in Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, and the results were compared with the NTE INEN 1108:2006 "Drinking Water" standard. Twenty-three parameters were analyzed for each sample, determining that the level of phosphates in the drinking water exceeds the maximum permissible limit established in the standard (<0.3 mg/L): Chamboloma with 0.92 mg/L, Chiquicaz with 0.76 mg/L, Telempala with 0.91 mg/L, Bayubug with 2.24 mg/L and La Merced de Guiltus with 3.21 mg/L. In addition, the microbiological analysis determined that all communities are contaminated with total coliforms. With the results obtained, a filtration and disinfection system is proposed as an alternative for treating drinking water to remove phosphates and total coliforms. A treatment was carried out at the laboratory level, using zeolite as a filter medium, which favored ion exchange, and 10% sodium hypochlorite was used for disinfection. The proposed system achieved an average phosphate removal of 89.86% and eliminated total coliforms by 100%. Based on these results, it is recommended to continue researching and monitoring the efficiency of this treatment in the long term, to ensure its viability and sustainability for the benefit of the community.