Monitoreo comunitario participativo de la calidad del agua: parroquia Los Encuentros del cantón Yantzaza

Abstract

Abstract: In this research, participatory community monitoring of water quality was used in the parish Los Encuentros of canton Yantzaza; Four neighborhoods were selected according to the number of habitants and the proximity to the Fruta del Norte mining project, these were: El Zarza, Jardines del Cóndor, El Pincho and Los Encuentros. Two methodologies were applied to evaluate water quality with the help of the Community: methodology 1: Benthic macroinvertebrate monitoring technique according to the EPT Index; and, methodology 2: Stream Visual Assessment Protocol "SVAP". Giving a result in the neighborhoods El Pincho and Los Encuentros good water quality; while, in El Zarza neighborhood the water quality was bad water quality; and finally the Jardines del Cóndor neighborhood, the results were regular water quality. Throughout the field work, the population made use of a detailed teaching manual of the water evaluation methodology, and at the same time can use it in future monitoring.