Towards a Comprehensive Assessment of Water Quality in Colombia: Challenges and Proposals in the Face of Emerging Contaminants

Introduction: Water quality has been recognized as a crucial factor for public health and environmental balance. In Colombia, current regulations have established physical, chemical and microbiological parameters for its evaluation, as defined by Resolution 2115 of 2007. However, the change in environmental, urban and industrial dynamics has generated the need for more updated methods capable of accurately reflecting the real condition of the water resource. Development: Water Quality Indices (WQI), such as the WQFI, WQINSF, DWQI, among others, have served as useful tools for the interpretation and communication of water quality. These indices were constructed from traditional parameters such as dissolved oxygen, coliforms, turbidity and pH. However, their narrow focus has left out compounds currently detectable thanks to the advancement of analytical science: emerging contaminants (ECs). These include pharmaceuticals, pesticides, hormones and viruses, whose presence has not only become more frequent, but also more dangerous to human health and aquatic biodiversity. Conclusions: Given the growing risk posed by ECs, the need to integrate these compounds into monitoring schemes was raised. Methods such as the AMOEBA index or the ICAUCA adapted for the Cauca river offer more contextualized solutions. Thus, it became evident that water quality assessment requires a dynamic and inclusive approach that articulates traditional variables with new threats, also taking into account regional, social and regulatory aspects to ensure access to safe water.