River water quality measurement in Ecuador

A monitoring program enabled the evaluation of water quality and the
simulation of the pollution dynamics of the rivers in the Joya de los
Sachas and Francisco de Orellana cantons in Ecuador. One used the WQI
(water quality index) and the pollution indices ICOMO (organics
contamination), ICOSUS (suspended solids), ICOMI (mineralization), ICOTRO
(trophy system), and ICOpH (pH Index). The mathematical model operates
with several input parameters, including dissolved oxygen, fecal
coliforms, the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), turbidity, total solids,
total phosphorus, pH, total nitrogen, suspended solids, alkalinity,
conductivity, temperature, and the concentrations of nitrates, nitrites,
and phosphates. WQI values were obtained from ICO pollution indices. The
pollution of the Sacha area is significant, WQI = 0.292, which represents
an advanced degree of pollution since increased BOD values correspond to a
high load of organic pollutants. They can originate from household,
agricultural, industrial, and soil erosion waste. Likewise, the Sacha
River has an ICOSUS = 0.16, which renders water treatment difficult,
without impacting human health. Calculated WQI values reveal that the
water quality of the Sacha, Basura and Coca rivers is low, being highly
contaminated. In contrast, the Huamayacu, Jivino Rojo, Jivino Negro, and
Jivino Blanco rivers are commonly polluted.