Estimation of water supply and demand, using meteorological parameters from 1990 to 2020, in the micro-basin of the Chibunga river - Ecuador

Luis Miguel Santillan Quiroga^1,2, Alejandro Gabriel Cepeda Moscoso² & Amalia Isabel Escudero Villa^2
1Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi di Torino. Via Valperga Caluso 35, Torino, Italy. ²Higher Polytechnic School of Chimborazo. Ciencias Riobamba, Chimborazo, Ecuador.
Corresponding author e-mail: luismiguel.santillanquiroga@unito.it

The objective is to prove the climatological state of the Chibunga River micro-basin through a water balance based on hydro-meteorological information. Historical records of rainfall and temperature were used from 1990 to 2020 (30 years). By processing these data, it was possible to determine the catchment flow of the basin, which is reflected in the water supply, and to calculate the demand for water in the area, using population and endowment data. These two parameters are key to determining the scarcity index in the basin and thus to estimating the amount of water in the area. The meteorological station records were provided by the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology. Statistical and mathematical operations were carried out using the R programming language and ArcGis10x software. The weather patterns of the micro-basin are well defined and did not show temporal changes in any of the calculated parameters, the amounts varied between periods, and therefore the water supply, demand, and scarcity index. From the first to the second period, the scarcity index went from insignificant to moderate, closing the third period also with a moderate index, so that its value between periods was from 8.81 to 16.79%.

water balance, Chibunga micro basin, Ecuador.