Evaluación de la carga microbiológica en el ciclo de vida del agua potable en la ciudad de Portoviejo

Abstract

A supply of drinking water free of contaminants is crucial to protect the health of the population, avoiding diseases transmitted by pathogenic microorganisms and other biotic and abiotic contaminants. In this way, water for human consumption is regulated by the NTE INEN 1108 standard. Sixth revision, that establishes the maximum permissible limits in physicochemical and microbiological parameters. This thesis evaluates the microbiological load in the life cycle of drinking water in the city of Portoviejo, using the most probable number (NMP) technique for the identification and subsequent quantification of total, fecal and E.coli coliforms, the results of which are compared with the NTE INEN 1108 standard. Sixth revision. “Water for human consumption. Requirements” and the “Environmental quality and effluent discharge standard: Water resources, 2015”. Sampling was carried out at 15 strategic points in the city of Portoviejo. All samples were collected in accordance with the NTE INEN-ISO 5667-5 standard "Guide for sampling drinking water from treatment plants and pipeline distribution systems". The microbiological tests were carried out in the laboratory of the "Cuatro Esquinas" drinking water treatment plant belonging to the public company Portoaguas. It has been verified that the results show that there is no contamination in the drinking water storage tanks and distribution lines after the purification process, because the population receives a water supply in their homes that complies with what is established by the standard. NTE INEN 1108. Sixth revision. It should be noted that special attention must be paid to the source of raw water, which does not comply with the corresponding regulations, however, according to an exception to the standard, it can be used occasionally as long as after the purification process it remains within the maximum limit established in the microbiological parameters, for which an exhaustive control must be carried out to inform the competent authorities of necessary corrective actions, in case non-compliance continues. Lastly, the wastewater discharge previously treated before being dumped into the receiving source presents a high degree of contamination, the maximum possible with the method and probabilistic table used, for which it is recommended to use 9 tubes under the same technique (3 by dilution 1/10; 1/100; 1/1000) with their respective probabilistic table to obtain more specific data.