STUDY OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF WASTEWATER DISCHARGES ON THE SELF-PURIFICATION CAPACITY IN PORTOVIEJO RIVER, ECUADOR

Abstract

The paper proposes the study of the environmental impact caused by the wastewater discharges in the Portoviejo River basin, through the evaluation of its self-purification capacity through the use of a mathematical model. It also shows the considerations to be taken into account for the application of the model, the location of the dumps and the model parameters adjusted from the experimental data showing the variation of the dissolved oxygen concentration regarding the corrected length of the stream considering the morphology of the river. From these parameters, the values of the re-oxygenation rate and oxygen consumption constants were calculated, which are used as the basis for the identification of the most critical river section and of the spills that affect the most the self-purification capacity.