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ACI Avances en Ciencias e Ingenierías

SECTION B: LIFE SCIENCES

Vol. 15 No. 2 (2023)

Groundwater quality index in central west region of Santa Fe province, Argentina: Groundwater quality index

DOI
https://doi.org/10.18272/aci.v15i2.2931
Submitted
March 31, 2023
Published
2023-10-18

Abstract

Water supply is essential to meet the basic needs of the population and promote socio-economic development. However, aquifers are subject to problems of depletion and contamination. To assess the state of water, a quality index is used that considers multiple physical, chemical, and biological parameters, formulated into a mathematical equation within a specified period. Additionally, this index allows for a global analysis of water quality at different levels and determines the vulnerability of the water body to potential threats. The goal of this study is to examine the quality of groundwater in the central-west region of Santa Fe Province, Argentina, using a representative water quality index (WQI). This will allow for the calculation of WQI and the classification of groundwater in terms of its suitability for human consumption, according to the categories of excellent, good, poor, very poor, and unsuitable. Samples were taken at various points in the study area between 2021 and 2022, and the physicochemical characteristics of the samples were determined. For the calculation of WQI, seven physicochemical parameters were used, and each parameter was assigned a weight according to its relative importance in water quality and in terms of adverse effects on human health. The results obtained showed that most of the samples analyzed were classified as "very poor" and "unsuitable for human consumption”. The WQI showed that the chemical quality of groundwater in the central-west region of Santa Fe Province, Argentina, is generally acceptable for supply purposes. Therefore, it is advisable to design a monitoring scheme that reflects any changes in the quality and quantity of the resource, which will allow for the use of corrective and/or palliative measures in the event of its deterioration

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