Evaluación de la calidad del agua mediante la aplicación del índice ICA-NSF del río Canuto en el cantón Chone
The deterioration of water bodies due to domestic, agricultural and livestock activities represents a growing threat to public health and the sustainability of river ecosystems in rural areas of Ecuador. In this context, the present research aimed to evaluate the water quality of the Canuto river, l...
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| Format: | bachelorThesis |
| Language: | spa |
| Published: |
2025
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| Online Access: | http://repositorio.espam.edu.ec/handle/42000/2831 |
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Add Tag | Summary: | The deterioration of water bodies due to domestic, agricultural and livestock activities represents a growing threat to public health and the sustainability of river ecosystems in rural areas of Ecuador. In this context, the present research aimed to evaluate the water quality of the Canuto river, located in the Chone canton, through the application of the NSF-ICA Water Quality Index. The study was developed under a quantitative-descriptive approach, and was carried out in three sampling zones (upper, middle and lower part), at depths of 10 cm, 30 cm and 1 m. Twelve physicochemical and microbiological parameters were analyzed: turbidity, total solids, suspended solids, temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅), nitrates, nitrites, phosphates, fecal coliforms and color. Samples were collected in dry and rainy seasons and processed in the laboratory under standardized protocols. Subsequently, individual subindices were calculated and integrated to determine the total AQI by zone and depth. The quality of the Canuto River was fair during the dry season (ICA 62.6–69.4), with high turbidity (6.3–8.9 NTU), critical phosphate levels in the middle zone (8.3 mg/L) and BOD₅ above the limit (6.2–8.0 mg/L), while coliforms and dissolved oxygen remained within acceptable ranges. During the rainy season, quality improved to good (ICA 77.5–81.9), with high dissolved oxygen (14.2 mg/L), critical phosphate levels (9.5–13.1 mg/L) in the middle and lower zones, and still high turbidity (8.6–8.8 NTU), while nitrates and coliforms remained normal. The middle zone showed greater vulnerability to agricultural and domestic pollution, and the rainy season partially favoured the dispersion of pollutants. In conclusion, the ICA-NSF proved to be an effective tool for diagnosing critical areas and guiding environmental management strategies. |
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