Identification Of Tap Water Sources And Water Supply Structure In A Mesoscale Tropical Andean City

Water Stable Isotopes (Wsi; O18O And O2H) Have Been Broadly Used In A Variety Of Hydrological Applications In Disturbed Headwater Catchments Around The World In The Last Few Decades. However, Their Applicability To Investigate The Hidrological Conditions In Urban Systems Remains Limited. Thus, There Is An Increasing Interest To Explore The Use Of These Tracers In Urban Hydorlogical Applications Wordwide. In Northen South America, The Paramo Ecosystem, Know As The "Water Tower"Of The Northen Andes, Is The Main Source Of Water That Helps Sustain The Socio-Economic Development Of The Region By Supplying Hydropower Generation, Industrial, Agricultural And Urban Water Needs Of Millions Of People In The Region. However, To Date, Research Aimed To Understahnd How Water Originated From This Ecosystem Is Distributed Within Water Supply Systems Is Water (Surface Water Versus Gorundwater) And The Structure Of The Water Supply System Of A Urban Mesoscale City In The Tropical Andes. Objective That Will Be Achieved Through The Spatiotemporal Analyses Of The Wsi Composition Of The Water Sourcesand Outlets (Ie., Precipitation, Streamflow, Spring Water, Reservoir Water, And Tap Water) Which Form Part Of The Urban Water System Of The City Of Cuenca (68 Km2) In South Ecuador. Information That Is Urgently Needed To Evaluate The Effectiveness Of The Applicability Of Wsi In Urban Systems In Developing Countries And Strategic Regions, Such As The Tropics, Where The Improvemet Of Water Supply Systems Remains A Challenge Of Remarkable Health, Social, And Economical Relevance. Thus, This First Evaluation Of The Water Supply System A Mesoscale Tropical City Of The Andes Will Not Only Become A Benchmark Study On The Application Of Wsi In Urban Hydrological Applications In The Region, But Also Will Provide Baseline Information That Will Help Improve The Management Of The Water System For The Approximately 400.000 Inhabitants Of The City Of Cuenca