Gestión Integrada de Recursos Hídricos. Caso de Estudio: Evaluación hidrológica y de inundación en los márgenes del río Zamora, sector PTAR del cantón Loja, provincia de Loja.

Abstract

Abstract: This study looks at the flood threat affecting the Loja Wastewater Treatment Plant. For this purpose, topographic surveys and high-resolution aerial photogrammetry were combined with hydrological and hydraulic modeling tools. In an initial stage, the HEC-HMS software was used to define the watershed and its sub-basins, which allowed the main physical characteristics and flood hydrographs to be obtained. Later on, peak design flows were estimated using the Virtual Hydrology Laboratory (HydroVlab), reaching values of 341.6 m³/s, 371.9 m³/s, and 482.09 m³/s for return periods of 25, 50, and 100 years. Based on these values, the river behavior was simulated using HEC-RAS 6.6, making it possible to identify the flooded areas under each scenario. The results show that, during larger flood events, the PTAR infrastructure is exposed to severe flooding conditions, with water depths reaching up to 5.73 meters, which clearly indicates a high level of impact.