Development and application of water quality modeling with GESCAL-AQUATOOL in the Lurín river-Lima-Peru

Arias-Aguila E.; Vela-Cardich R.; Ramos-Fernandez L. · Tecnologia y Ciencias del Agua (2024) · DOI: 10.24850/j-tyca-2024-03-06

Resumen

The lower basin of the Lurin River is one of the last large extensions of green areas in Lima, the capital of Peru, however, it is affected by different anthropic activities. Due to this situation, and with the objective of improving management of water resources, a water quality model was implemented with the GESCAL module of the AQUATOOL decision support system. The construction of hydrographic network of the river was made from data collected in field trips, while it was developed a monitoring program for modeling water quality of the river's lower section. The main parameters evaluated were dissolved oxygen, BOD5 and Escherichia coli. The collected information helped to determine coefficients of organic matter degradation, deoxygenation and re-aeration of the river sections, and finally, helped to parameterize the model. The calibration of model for dissolved oxygen showed a performance from "good" to "very good" with values of 0.77, 0.23 and 0.8058 for E, RSR and r2, respectively; in the case of BOD5, values of 0.99, 0.01 and 0.9995 were obtained for E, RSR and r2, respectively; and for Escherichia coli, values of 0.99, 0.01 and 0.9993 for E, RSR and r2, were obtained respectively. Finally, four scenarios were simulated, from which it was determined that in order to achieve the environmental objectives it is necessary to improve the processes of Manchay and San Bartolo wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), close the irrigation channel from the chapel of the area and implement a WWTP in the district of Pachacamac. The study demonstrates the usefulness of the AQUATOOL/GESCAL system in making informed decisions for the management of water resources at the basin level.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina