Análisis comparativo de diferentes índices para evaluar la calidad de agua del río Calera perteneciente a la cuenca del río Puyango

Abstract

Abstract: The present work is aimed at verifying if the water of the Calera River, which runs along Zaruma and Portovelo, the largest mining district in Ecuador, is contaminated by industrial activity in the area, for this we rely on historical data from the MAATE, creating a monitoring network where sampling will be carried out for the year 2021, using the parameters that are most convenient for us. The limits established by TULSMA 2015, mainly for mercury, which is the most used heavy metal in obtaining gold, have been exceeded, from 0,005 mg/L, reaching 0,006 mg/L in 2021, which shows contamination mining. The water quality indices at point 4-EC for the year 2007 give us results of CCME-WQI: 49,84/100, DWQI: 796,97>300 and ICA-PE: 71,04/100, which are values of very low quality. of water for each methodology in its different classifications. With the appreciation of the water quality of the Calera River-, short-, medium- and long-term solutions can be determined for the condition of its waters.