Preliminary analysis of the water qualityof the Ahuitzoc river in San Jerónimo Coyula, Atlixco, Puebla

Abstract

The United Nations (UN) approved the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which consists of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For this study, SDG 6, which focuses on ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, is considered (1). Water is a fundamental resource for socioeconomic development and human health.

In the state of Puebla, there is the municipality of Atlixco, where the community of San Jerónimo Coyula, with a population of 7,750 inhabitants, is located. However, due to the lack of potable water, the population uses water from the Ahuitzoc River for various domestic activities (2). This river originates from a spring where some residents drink the water directly.

With the aim of assessing the water quality of the river, physicochemical and microbiological tests were conducted at five sites along the Ahuitzoc River during the dry season in April and May, with one sample taken each month.

The assessment of water quality through physicochemical tests such as hardness, temperature, and pH is essential to determine the quality of a water body (3). Additionally, it is necessary to compare the results with the permissible limits for human consumption as established by national regulations (4).

The study followed these steps: 1. Identifying sampling points; 2. Collecting samples; 3. Measuring pH, temperature, and total dissolved solids in situ; 4. Conducting the hardness test; and 5. Performing microbiological tests.

The environmental impact on the Ahuitzoc River was evident in the microbiological results, with colony-forming units (CFU/mL) > 250 obtained at the final sampling site (M5). Therefore, actions need to be taken by local authorities to benefit both the community and the environment.