Determinación de la calidad del agua mediante medios químicos y biológicos de contaminación en el río Ambi, ciudad de Atuntaqui en la provincia de Imbabura

In this research, the water quality of the Ambi River was analyzed, since today there are several anthropogenic activities both in its surroundings and in the river itself, activities such as the exploitation of vegetation, the inappropriate use of chemicals in agriculture, among others. others. For this reason, the main objective of the research was to determine the water quality of the Ambi River located in the city of Atuntaqui, province of Imbabura through chemical and biological means for the analysis of contamination in it. Physical-chemical parameters such as BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand), COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand), total dissolved solids, pH, turbidity, nitrates, phosphates and biological indicators were analyzed using the BMWP (Biological Monitoring Working Party) method. Among the main results of the investigation, it was found that, through physical-chemical analysis, the river water is not suitable for human consumption. In addition, a total of 13 orders and 21 families of macroinvertebrates were identified in the Ambi River. The score obtained for the BMWP index for the Ambi river was 37, which categorizes it in a Class III, with a quality not suitable for human consumption, with a yellow color, which means that the waters are contaminated. In this way, the main conclusion is that the water of the Ambi River has a poor quality, which is a product not only of the geomorphological conditions of the sector generated by natural processes, but mainly this contamination is caused by anthropogenic activities. such as the discharge of industrial and/or urban wastewater into the river without prior treatment, also altering the aquatic biota.

En esta investigación se analizó la calidad del agua del rio Ambi, ya que hoy en día existen varias actividades antropogénicas tanto en sus alrededores como en el río mismo, actividades como la explotación de la vegetación, el uso inadecuado de químicos en la agricultura, entre otras. Por esto, el objetivo principal de la investigación consistió en determinar la calidad del agua del Río Ambi ubicado en la ciudad de Atuntaqui, provincia de Imbabura mediante medios químicos y biológicos para el análisis de contaminación en el mismo. Se analizaron parámetros físico – químicos como DBO (Demanda Bioquímica de Oxigeno), DQO (Demanda Química de Oxigeno), sólidos totales disueltos, pH, turbidez, nitratos, fosfatos e indicadores biológicos empleando el método de BMWP (Biological Monitoring Working Party). Entre los principales resultados de la investigación se encontró que, por medio del análisis físico – químico que, el agua del río no es apta para consumo humano. Además, se identificaron un total de 13 órdenes y 21 familias de macroinvertebrados en el río Ambi. El puntaje obtenido para el índice BMWP para el río Ambi fue de 37, lo cual, lo categoriza en una Clase III, con una calidad no apta para el consumo humano, con un color amarillo, lo que significa que las aguas se encuentran contaminadas. De esta forma, la principal conclusión consiste en que, el agua del río Ambi tiene una mala calidad, lo cual, es producto no únicamente de las condiciones geomorfológicas del sector generadas por los procesos naturales, sino que principalmente esta contaminación es causada por actividades antropogénicas como el vertido de aguas residuales industriales y/o urbanos al río sin un tratamiento previo alterando, además, la biota acuática.

In this research, the water quality of the Ambi River was analyzed, since today there are several anthropogenic activities both in its surroundings and in the river itself, activities such as the exploitation of vegetation, the inappropriate use of chemicals in agriculture, among others. others. For this reason, the main objective of the research was to determine the water quality of the Ambi River located in the city of Atuntaqui, province of Imbabura through chemical and biological means for the analysis of contamination in it. Physical-chemical parameters such as BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand), COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand), total dissolved solids, pH, turbidity, nitrates, phosphates and biological indicators were analyzed using the BMWP (Biological Monitoring Working Party) method. Among the main results of the investigation, it was found that, through physical-chemical analysis, the river water is not suitable for human consumption. In addition, a total of 13 orders and 21 families of macroinvertebrates were identified in the Ambi River. The score obtained for the BMWP index for the Ambi river was 37, which categorizes it in a Class III, with a quality not suitable for human consumption, with a yellow color, which means that the waters are contaminated. In this way, the main conclusion is that the water of the Ambi River has a poor quality, which is a product not only of the geomorphological conditions of the sector generated by natural processes, but mainly this contamination is caused by anthropogenic activities. such as the discharge of industrial and/or urban wastewater into the river without prior treatment, also altering the aquatic biota.