Determination of the Water Quality Index (NFS WQI) of water bodies in the Huasteca Potosina, Mexico

Abstract

The water quality of water bodies in Huasteca Potosina was assessed by the National Sanitation Foundation Water Quality Index (NFS WQI) depending on nine water quality parameters include physical, chemical, and biological properties. The water quality obtained at the sampling site 50-90 in the NSF-WQI range shows the medium quality. Results revealed that the Moctezuma River in Tanquian de Escobedo has low water quality with a score of 50, the Tancuilin and Axtla Rivers have good water quality, and the Moctezuma River (Tampamolón Corona), Amajac River, Valles River, Panuco River, Patitos Lagoon, Plan de Iguala Lagoon were all located in medium water quality. This indicates that the water quality of the Huasteca Potosina is irregular, due to the presence of contaminating agents coming from fertilizers, pesticides, domestic water, and residual water from the communities adjacent to the rivers and lagoons, causing an environmental impact to the aquatic ecosystems of the place. However, this research shows the importance of making use of the water quality index in this region, this to relate the environmental impacts responsible for the contamination of surface water and interpret the experimental data of this water quality monitoring to facilitate decision making and consider frequent monitoring of the quality of water bodies in the Huasteca Potosina.