At 6:58 pm, on April 16th of 2016, a massive earthquake that measured 7.8 on the Richter scale devastated the northern costal state of Manabi, Ecuador. More than 650 people died, roughly 13,000 were injured, and countless people were displaced from their homes and lost their livelihoods. The displaced residents of Ecuador have been occupying orphanages, villages, tent cities, and government-run refugee camps throughout the disaster-stricken areas. These temporary establishments have provided some relief to the people of Ecuador as they begin to rebuild their homes and infrastructures; however, the security of fresh drinking water has been questionable. In an effort to provide, safe, clean drinking water to the people of Ecuador technologically advanced biofilters from Sawyer International Water Filters have been installed any many of these locations. Recently, qualitative analysis of the filtered water has shown evidence of increased pH and nitrate levels. This research is a quantitatively analysis of the filtered water samples as well as an assay of the contamination of the original water supply. Quantitative measurements of temperature, pH, turbidity (total dissolved solids), and nitrate concentration were taken of each sample at the various locations. If indications of pH and / or turbidity deemed it necessary, samples were collected and analyzed further in the laboratory via titration, ultraviolet spectroscopy (UV), and / or microwave plasma atomic emission spectrometry (AES). These values were compared to those provided by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality.

Water quality of Ecuador following the earthquake of 2016

254th National Meeting (2017)

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