Comparación de índices de calidad de aguas aplicados en el arroyo del Azul, provincia de Buenos Aires

Abstract

The evaluation of water quality in developed countries has lately become of a critical decision nature. Indexes of water quality are management tools frequently applied for that purpose. In this paper four water quality indexes are applied and compared in order to study their performance on the basis of information from 9 seasonal sampling surveys carried out in the Azul Creek, aiming at their use as a management tool and for the establishment of a continuous water monitoring system for diverse uses. When choosing among the indexes, it is important to consider the number and quality of variables as a key factor in order that the chosen index reflects properly the characteristics of the water body. The four indexes are sensitive to certain variation of the water quality in diverse sections of the creek, presenting the same general trend, though always in a range between good and average quality. Therefore, those indexes, given their adequacy, may prove to be valid evaluation instruments.