Propuesta metodológica para la identificación y visualización de amenazas en la calidad del agua en cuerpos hídricos - Provincia del Guavio

Abstract

The Province of Guavio relies heavily on its surface water resources to supply local communities. However, activities such as mining, agriculture, and urban expansion exert increasing pressure that can compromise water quality. In response to this situation, this study proposes a methodological approach based on Geographic Information Systems to identify and visualize the threats affecting the region’s drainage network. The analysis integrates both anthropogenic and environmental variables—mining activity, proximity to populated centers, land use, and slope—through a multicriteria spatial evaluation. This framework allowed the construction of a threat index applied to a 50-meter buffer around the hydrological network. The results indicate that mining and urban proximity are the factors that most strongly influence the level of threat, whereas natural land cover plays a protective role by significantly reducing risk. The model produced an integrated map classifying drainage segments from very low to very high threat, highlighting critical corridors where human pressures converge with vulnerable physiographic conditions. Additionally, the application of the model in a pilot area demonstrated consistent spatial behavior and confirmed its usefulness for identifying priority zones for intervention. Overall, the proposed methodology offers a replicable and adaptable tool to support environmental management and decision-making processes in the Province of Guavio.