Development of a specific water quality index for the protection of aquatic life of a highly polluted urban river
A novel method is proposed for the development of ecosystem specific water quality indices in accordance with specific guidelines for the protection of aquatic life and with the capacity to demonstrate annual cycles, spatial and temporal variations, and trends in water quality. An ecosystem-specific...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Ecological Indicators |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X21005641 |
| _version_ | 1818401902864367616 |
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| author | Luis Fernando Casillas-García José de Anda Carlos Yebra-Montes Harvey Shear Diego Díaz-Vázquez Misael Sebastián Gradilla-Hernández |
| author_facet | Luis Fernando Casillas-García José de Anda Carlos Yebra-Montes Harvey Shear Diego Díaz-Vázquez Misael Sebastián Gradilla-Hernández |
| author_sort | Luis Fernando Casillas-García |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A novel method is proposed for the development of ecosystem specific water quality indices in accordance with specific guidelines for the protection of aquatic life and with the capacity to demonstrate annual cycles, spatial and temporal variations, and trends in water quality. An ecosystem-specific water quality index for the Santiago-Guadalajara River (SGR-WQI) was developed using a method based entirely on multivariate statistical methods and historical data distributions. The SGR-WQI was developed using data from 13 water quality monitoring stations in the Santiago-Guadalajara River basin, collected monthly from 2009 to 2019 by the State Water Commission of Jalisco, México. The behaviour of 44 water quality parameters was statistically analyzed. It was found that 17 of the parameters best represented the water quality of the River. Parameter selection also considered the legal limits, established by the Government of Mexico, for the protection of aquatic life. To consider the protection of aquatic biota in the assessment of the index, a method was proposed to incorporate these limits in the development of rating curves providing the WQI with high sensitivity to parameter values that are outside the legal limits. Furthermore, a well-structured method based on multivariate statistical techniques was used to determine the parameter weights that best distinguish between sampling points and seasons, clearly reflecting temporal and spatial variability, as well as to demonstrate the annual cycle and trends in water quality. The methodology proposed can be used elsewhere to develop ecosystem specific water quality indices that evaluate surface water for protection of aquatic life in accordance with local limits/standards/guidelines and that adequately reflect spatial and temporal variability in agreement with the specific context. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T07:59:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ec804e84931449a68f8e15dd9274cbf1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1470-160X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T07:59:51Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecological Indicators |
| spelling | doaj.art-ec804e84931449a68f8e15dd9274cbf12022-12-21T23:10:27ZengElsevierEcological Indicators1470-160X2021-10-01129107899Development of a specific water quality index for the protection of aquatic life of a highly polluted urban riverLuis Fernando Casillas-García0José de Anda1Carlos Yebra-Montes2Harvey Shear3Diego Díaz-Vázquez4Misael Sebastián Gradilla-Hernández5Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco, Avenida Normalistas 800, CP 44270 Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico; Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Desarrollo Territorial, Gobierno de Jalisco, MexicoCentro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco, Avenida Normalistas 800, CP 44270 Guadalajara, Jalisco, MexicoENES-León, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Blvd. UNAM 2011, Predio el Saucillo y El Potrero, CP, 37684 León, Guanajuato, MexicoDepartment of Geography, Geomatics and Environment, University of Toronto-Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, CanadaTecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Ingenieria y Ciencias, Av. General Ramon Corona 2514, Nuevo Mexico, CP, 45138 Zapopan, Jalisco, MexicoTecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Ingenieria y Ciencias, Av. General Ramon Corona 2514, Nuevo Mexico, CP, 45138 Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico; Corresponding author.A novel method is proposed for the development of ecosystem specific water quality indices in accordance with specific guidelines for the protection of aquatic life and with the capacity to demonstrate annual cycles, spatial and temporal variations, and trends in water quality. An ecosystem-specific water quality index for the Santiago-Guadalajara River (SGR-WQI) was developed using a method based entirely on multivariate statistical methods and historical data distributions. The SGR-WQI was developed using data from 13 water quality monitoring stations in the Santiago-Guadalajara River basin, collected monthly from 2009 to 2019 by the State Water Commission of Jalisco, México. The behaviour of 44 water quality parameters was statistically analyzed. It was found that 17 of the parameters best represented the water quality of the River. Parameter selection also considered the legal limits, established by the Government of Mexico, for the protection of aquatic life. To consider the protection of aquatic biota in the assessment of the index, a method was proposed to incorporate these limits in the development of rating curves providing the WQI with high sensitivity to parameter values that are outside the legal limits. Furthermore, a well-structured method based on multivariate statistical techniques was used to determine the parameter weights that best distinguish between sampling points and seasons, clearly reflecting temporal and spatial variability, as well as to demonstrate the annual cycle and trends in water quality. The methodology proposed can be used elsewhere to develop ecosystem specific water quality indices that evaluate surface water for protection of aquatic life in accordance with local limits/standards/guidelines and that adequately reflect spatial and temporal variability in agreement with the specific context.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X21005641Ecosystem-specific water quality indexUrban riverSantiago-Guadalajara RiverProtection of aquatic lifeLand uses |
| spellingShingle | Luis Fernando Casillas-García José de Anda Carlos Yebra-Montes Harvey Shear Diego Díaz-Vázquez Misael Sebastián Gradilla-Hernández Development of a specific water quality index for the protection of aquatic life of a highly polluted urban river Ecological Indicators Ecosystem-specific water quality index Urban river Santiago-Guadalajara River Protection of aquatic life Land uses |
| title | Development of a specific water quality index for the protection of aquatic life of a highly polluted urban river |
| title_full | Development of a specific water quality index for the protection of aquatic life of a highly polluted urban river |
| title_fullStr | Development of a specific water quality index for the protection of aquatic life of a highly polluted urban river |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development of a specific water quality index for the protection of aquatic life of a highly polluted urban river |
| title_short | Development of a specific water quality index for the protection of aquatic life of a highly polluted urban river |
| title_sort | development of a specific water quality index for the protection of aquatic life of a highly polluted urban river |
| topic | Ecosystem-specific water quality index Urban river Santiago-Guadalajara River Protection of aquatic life Land uses |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X21005641 |
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