Evaluación del estado ambiental de las cuencas hidrográficas en el contexto de la Gestión Integrada de Recursos Hídricos: Cuencas hidrográficas abastecedoras de agua para la ciudad de Azoguez

Abstract

Abstract: This research evaluated the environmental status of the Tabacay River and Aguilán Creek micro-basins, the main sources of drinking water for the city of Azogues, using an Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) approach. The study was developed using a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative methods. The evaluation included the analysis of water quality through the Water Quality Index (WQI-NSF) during the rainy and dry seasons, the analysis of vegetation cover and land-use changes using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) with Landsat satellite images from 2013 and 2023, as well as the analysis of citizen and key stakeholder perceptions through surveys and interviews. The results indicate that the water quality in both micro-basins is classified as fair, showing alterations associated with physicochemical and microbiological parameters. Multitemporal NDVI analysis shows changes in vegetation cover related to anthropogenic pressures and land-use transformation. Likewise, the population's perception reflects concern about the quality, quantity, management, and conflicts associated with water resources. Based on these results, strategies are proposed to strengthen IWRM and promote the environmental sustainability of micro-watersheds.