Abstract

FABIOLA, Martínez,; CRISTHIAN, Prieto,; PAULINA, Martínez,  and  PABLO, Ochoa,. Ecological Quality of the Water Supply Basins in the City of Loja - Ecuador. Rev Politéc. (Quito) [online]. 2023, vol.52, n.2, pp.77-86. ISSN 2477-8990.  https://doi.org/10.33333/rp.vol52n2.08.

The quality of surface water in basins with low supply and high demand for this resource must be evaluated, mainly in developing countries. However, due to the availability of resources, only the physicochemical parameters have been considered to do it, in order that relating biotic and abiotic elements will allow knowing the ecological status, as a more comprehensive reading of the health or quality of the aquatic ecosystem. Therefore, the objective of this study was to estimate the ecological quality in micro-basins with different soil conservation status and that supply water for its purification in the city of Loja in southern Ecuador. For this, various biotic indices were used, starting from the most common as diversity indices, the ABI (Andean Biotic Index) based on the BMWP (Biological Monitoring Working Party), the EPT (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera); and the habitat quality index SVAP (Stream Visual Assessment Protocol). The results of these indices place the three micro-basins that currently supply water (San Simón, El Carmen and Mendieta), with good quality; however, their conditions of use, management and conservation should not be neglected. For the two remaining micro-basins, a doubtful water quality was estimated due to the impact of certain anthropic activities that occur in them. For this reason, using the ecological quality index (EQI) in water supply basins can be very useful for integral management watersheds, territorial ordering, or to generate regulations by decentralized autonomous governments (DAG), with a more holistic and prospective vision.

Keywords : Water quality; macroinvertebrates; ABI-BMWP; EPT; SVAP; EQI.

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