Water recharge, hydrological processes, and surface water quality through Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) in streams of the Ilaló volcano.

David Vinicio Carrera , Lizbeth Lima, Wilter Montero

In the Ilaló volcano, water supplied the Valle de los Chillos and Tumbaco to the south of the capital of Ecuador. Mamatena and Kanguil Uku are two water sources, and for approximately 40 years, there has been a pipeline for domestic and irrigation use. The main objectives were to identify the water recharge areas, characterize the groundwater flow lines, and determine the percentage of losses due to leaks in the existing conduction infrastructure. In addition, a Climography was prepared, and the quantity and quality of surface water were evaluated. Through vertical electrical soundings, geostatistics, and standardized laboratory methods, the physical and chemical parameters of the water are determined. Recharge was manifested to the southwest of the Ilaló at coordinates 787,348.39 and 9,970,679.33 at an altitude of 3170.95 masl with 20.5Ω.m resistivity, being the lowest and classified as saturated sand at depths of 3.25m to 8.67m. The Climography reported insufficient rainfall. The percentage of water leakage was 25.93% and the SbN showed that the soil is saturating with more water, preventing degradation and enhancing water storage.