DOI: 10.5061/dryad.2ngf1vhz7
title: River water quality measurement in Ecuador

description: 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.
description: <strong>Study Area</strong> The
 study area of this project included the experimental farms of the examined
 components in the Parishes San Carlos, San Sebastián del Coca, Tres de
 Noviembre, San José de Guayusa, the Joya de los Sachas and Francisco.
 Investigated were the experimental farms of Orellana components, in the
 Province of Orellana, which correspond to an area of 1205.6
 km<sup>2</sup>. Four reference points have been selected for
 sampling on the Sacha River and on the Basura River experimental
 estates.
 <strong>Methodology</strong> To
 assess the water quality and simulate the pollution dynamics of the rivers
 in the Joya de los Sachas canton for agricultural use, preservation of
 aquatic life, and recreation, one sampled and characterized river water at
 the monitoring points. Subsequently, one performed calculations and
 analysis of quality indices WQI, ICOMO, ICOSUS, ICOpH, ICOTRO, and
 ICOMI. <strong>Sampling and characterization of
 monitoring points</strong>
 <strong> </strong>The sampling points were selected
 by considering the use of oil, anthropogenic activities close to the
 rivers, the accessibility, width, and depth of the rivers. By this
 approach the authors designated 5 monitoring points at the Sacha River, 5
 at the Basura River, 6 points at the experimental farms assigned to
 zootechnics, and 5 points at the sector assigned to agronomy. At each
 monitoring point one carried out an integrated sampling, according to the
 following criteria: for rivers over 10 m wide 1 sampling point was chosen
 for every 2 m of the river width (Morales-Guzmán <em>et
 al</em>. 2022; Castle 2015), and a total of 21 points were
 monitored. To obtain a better representativeness of the water bodies’
 quality, the samples were collected monthly, from October 2019 to February
 2020, to coincide with the rainy and dry seasons (Alvarez <em>et
 al</em>. 2019). In each of the 21 points one determined: dissolved
 oxygen (DO), turbidity, dissolved total solids, pH, alkalinity,
 conductivity, temperature, and the concentration of three ions: ammonium
 (NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>), nitrates
 (NO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup>), and nitrites
 (NO<sub>2</sub><sup>-</sup>).
description: # Water quality by applying IQA and ICOs
 https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.2ngf1vhz7 #### **Description of the data and
 file structure** The main goal of the authors' experimental effort
 for which the data was collected: to establish a monitoring program for
 checking whether the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of
 rivers near the project area represent a climate-smart production system.
 Also, one aimed to determine synergies between mitigation, adaptation, and
 food security measures implemented since 2017 by the Causana Yachay Group.
 For establishing such synergies, one should document whether they meet the
 requirements for agricultural use, conservation of aquatic life, and
 recreation. One evaluated the quality of river waters via mathematical
 models that revealed the approximate quality parameters at points where
 the water was monitored starting in October 2019 until February 2020.
 Models were used to simulate the dynamics of pollutants and compare
 different rivers. In addition, the natural variables of aquatic ecosystems
 were tracked over time. Files and variables File:
 Lowy_Daniel_et_al__Water_quality_by_applying_IQA_and_ICOs.xls
 Description:  Variables: DBO (mg/L): biochemical oxygen demand CF
 (NMP/100mL): fecal coliforms OD (%): dissolved oxygen ST (mg/L): dissolved
 total solids Turbidez (mg/L): turbidity NO3 (mg/L): nitrate concentration
 PO4 (mg/L): phosphate concentration pH: pH value of the sampled river
 water T (°C): temperature of the sampled river water **Code/software** No
 software is needed to view the tabled experimental data (it is an Excel
 file).