Fuzzy Logic as a Tool for the Assessment of Water Quality for Reservoirs: A Regional Perspective (Lerma River Basin, Mexico)

Abstract

The aim of this study is to propose a water quality index for reservoirs in a basin using fuzzy logic. Most of the water quality indices are designed for use in rivers and streams and based on expert opinion; however, when the water is dammed, the quality usually Is modified. Mexico is a country with many contrasts in quantity and quality of water. Management of water resources in the Lerma River is achieved with a system of artificial reservoirs where water is stored in order to meet human needs, such as public supply, industry, agriculture and recreation, among others. Monitoring of 11 reservoirs in the Río Lerma basin was performed to characterize the water quality. Using the water quality data, those indicators that do not represent redundancy were selected based on the concentration gradient that occurred in the different reservoirs. Thus, the proposed index uses eight indicators of water quality. The fuzzy inference system is composed by 633 rules with a score from 0 to 100 and seven verbal categories. The index was validated by comparison with other water quality index, and their use across the basin was tested by applying it in five additional water bodies.