Diagnosis of rural aqueducts supplied from underground sources: El Calabacito case study, Herrera Province, Panama

Abstract

Water quality is linked to health and guaranteeing it supposes the collective well-being of the population; therefore, the efforts of the nations must be oriented to supply this universal right. In Panama, the quality of water for consumption and food safety is a great challenge: the total fulfillment of Goal 6 of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This research reveals the influence of technical and social aspects on the quality of the water from four rural aqueducts in El Calabacito; systems that are supplied by groundwater wells that do not receive timely treatment. In this sense, laboratory analyzes were carried out during 2018-2019, as part of the study "Diagnosis and improvements to the rural aqueduct system of the communities of Ojo de Agua, Las Lomas, La Canoa and El Calabacito", to know the physicochemical status and microbiology of the water in the study area. The physicochemical quality was found to be acceptable for consumption; however, it is necessary to apply treatment to reduce the concentrations of total coliforms reported in the analyzes. Considering the technological and socioeconomic characteristics of the study area, it is recommended to disinfect the water with chlorine, to enhance the benefit / cost in the pre-treatment process. It is also advisable to monitor parameters such as turbidity, alkalinity, hardness and residual chlorine of the sources; due to concentrations above the maximum values allowed by the DGNTI-COPANIT technical regulations 23-395-99 and 21-2019.