Analysis of the Vegetation-Soil-Water Interaction and External Factors on the Water Availability in A Rain Forest 

Judith Ramos Hernández1 , Gracia J.1 , Ortiz S.1 , González-Chávez J. L.2 , and Iturbe R.1 

1. Instituto de Ingeniería, UNAM 

2. Facultad de Química, UNAM 

Abstract: Degradation of water quality due to human and natural causes leads to the loss of the environmental value of an ecosystem. This paper establishes how land use changes have a major impact affecting water quality. Nine aguadas with and without direct human impact were monitored and results show that water quality is associated to: deforestation once nude the land it produces water erosion, rock washing in the subsurface and surface favouring the presence of inorganic elements, and human activities that press the aguadas for different water uses. These factors tend to overpass the resilience capability of the ecosystem. 

Key words: water quality, aguadas, rain forest, karstic soils, sustainability