Evaluación de los recursos hídricos subterráneos en la Zona de Mulaló. Análisis espacio-temporal de los parámetros físicos y químicos del agua.

Abstract

The Mulaló aquifer is a system that has not been studied yet, so in this study the analysis is carried out where the spatial and temporal variations of groundwater are evidenced. The data for the hydrochemical analysis were obtained from INAMHI, from two seasons: dry and wet. ArcGIS was used to obtain the relationship between physical and chemical parameters with spatial data such as vegetation cover, land use, precipitation, and soil geology to comprehend the geochemical processes and activities that influence groundwater. The existence of groundwater contamination and use were analyzed by using the Piper diagram and the Wilcox diagram. As a result, the piezometric level of the aquifer is not very variable during seasons, it is minimal (2 m), and there is a recharge area in the central zone of the aquifer where EC, temperature, Na+, Ca+2, Mg+2, CO3-2 and HCO3- increase their concentrations. The water is calcium bicarbonate due to soil geology and the presence of biotite (Mg+2 and K+) and plagioclase (Na+, Ca+2 and HCO3-) was determined. The aquifer water can be used for irrigation but there are points where the water is unsuitable for this purpose. The existence of anthropic contamination is assumed due to the presence of nitrates (fertilizers or residual water) whose concentration (76.6 – 96.0 mg/l) in the dry season exceeds the limit (50 mg/l) of the values that allows the Ecuadorian regulations for water consumption and domestic use.