Lake Zirahuen, Michoacan, Mexico: An approach to sustainable water resource management based on the chemical and bacterial assessment of its water body

Abstract This paper analyses the water quality of Lake Zirahuen and the pressures it is facing. The analysis was made using 32 samples of water taken at 8 defined sites in the lake in different months of the year, following protocol established by Mexican standards. The results showed that the lake water has acceptable physicochemical and microbiological qualities for the protection of aquatic life. The K-Means method was used to regionalise the lake into clusters. The distribution of the variables is seen to differ in the rainy and dry seasons and it is also seen that the cluster pattern reflects the dominant direction of lake currents, thus providing easily accessed identification of the areas in which changes in water quality are greatest. To assess the activities taking place in the basin readily available public information was consulted. The pressures faced by the lake were identified applying a Pressure–State–Response framework. The results showed that the pressures on the lake are mainly caused by anthropogenic activities and that while the water quality is within the range “good to excellent”, it is important to establish stricter criteria, closer to international standards, in order to maintain and conserve this quality. Thus a series of strategies and recommendations are given in the article, which should lead towards sustainability. The methodology presented can easily be used in other places where little data exists and where it is hoped to exploit available freshwater as well as preserving its optimal quality.