Revista Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Antioquia, No.111, pp. 76-87, Apr-Jun 2024
Unified matrix for environmental impact
assessment applied to water resources,
Chicamocha River case study
Matriz unificada para la evaluación del impacto ambiental; estudio de caso del río
Chicamocha
Camilo Alejandro Corregidor-Fonseca 1, Biviana Esperanza Rocha-Gíl2, Juan Sebastián
Chiriví-Salomón3, 4, Guisett Adelina Gómez- Siachoque4*
1Grupo de Investigación COBIDES. Universidad Nacional Abierta y a Distancia. Calle 14 Sur # 14-23 Barrio Restrepo. C.
P. 110931. Bogotá, Colombia.
2Escuela de Ciencias Agrícolas, Pecuarias y del Medio Ambiente ECAPMA, Grupo de Investigación COBIDES. Universidad
Nacional Abierta y a Distancia UNAD. Calle 5 # 1A – 8. C. P. 152210. Boyacá, Colombia.
3Escuela de Ciencias Agrícolas, Pecuarias y del Medio Ambiente ECAPMA, Grupo de Investigación COBIDES. Universidad
Nacional Abierta y a Distancia UNAD. Calle 14 Sur # 14-23. C. P. 11151. Bogotá, Colombia.
4Symbiont Research & Development Corporation S.A.S. C. P. 250001. Carrera 2 Este # 31-56 Oficina 2. Chía,
Cundinamarca.
CITE THIS ARTICLE AS:
C. A. Corregidor-Fonseca, B.
E. Rocha-Gíl, J. S.
Chiriví-Salomón and G. A.
Gómez-Siachoque ”Unified
matrix for environmental
impact assessment applied to
water resources, Chicamocha
River case study”, Revista
Facultad de Ingeniería
Universidad de Antioquia, no.
111, pp. 76-87, Apr-Jun 2024.
[Online]. Available: https:
//www.doi.org/10.17533/
udea.redin.20230316
ARTICLE INFO:
Received: July 26, 2021
Accepted: February 28, 2023
Available online: March 01,
2023
KEYWORDS:
Pollution of water resources;
monitoring; characterization;
methodologies for
environmental impacts
assessment
Contaminación de recursos
hídricos; monitoreo;
caracterización; metodologías
para evaluación de impactos
ambientales
ABSTRACT: Environmental Impact Assessment – EIA makes a preventive and corrective
study possible to avoid damages resulting from anthropogenic activities. Different
methodologies are used for implementing EIA considering professional criteria and
applying qualitative and quantitative parameters; however, for water resources, the
methodologies that allow a deep analysis are limited. For this reason, the goal of the
study is to design a tool for Environmental Impact Assessment applied to the Vado-Castro
sector through the Transparency Overlay Methods, Leopold, and Battelle-Columbus.
The methods’ development was based on a diagnosis and monitoring of the water
resource, articulating the characterization and quantification of the environmental
impacts. Finally, a unified standard methodological tool was formulated which is
applicable to the water resource sector and considers all the necessary criteria when
carrying out a comprehensive EIA, as it is possible to demonstrate its applicability to
the case of the Chicamocha River tributary area. Thus, the unified matrix becomes a
fundamental tool to portray environmental public politics, providing means to recognize
the current environmental conditions of water resources affected by anthropic activities.
The results obtained will allow this research to be used as a reference source for
academic and technical studies that require evaluating water resource effects, and as
a tool that can be applied to another body of water.
RESUMEN: La evaluación de Impacto Ambiental – EIA posibilita un estudio preventivo
y correctivo para evitar daños derivados de actividades antrópicas. Para la
implementación de la EIA se utilizan diferentes metodologías tomando en cuenta
criterios profesionales y la aplicación de parámetros cualitativos y cuantitativos, sin
embargo, para el recurso hídrico las metodologías que permiten un análisis profundo
son limitadas. Por ello, el objetivo del estudio es diseñar una herramienta de Evaluación
de Impacto Ambiental aplicada al sector Vado-Castro a través de los Métodos de
Superposición de Transparencia, Leopold y Battelle-Columbus. El desarrollo de los
métodos se basó en un diagnóstico y monitoreo del recurso hídrico, articulando la
caracterización y cuantificación de los impactos ambientales. Finalmente, se formuló
una herramienta metodológica estándar unificada, aplicable al sector de recursos
hídricos y que considera todos los criterios necesarios a la hora de realizar una EIA
integral, ya que es posible demostrar su aplicabilidad al caso de la zona afluente del
río Chicamocha.
* Corresponding author: Guisett Adelina Gómez-Siachoque
E-mail: guisett.gomez@unad.edu.co
ISSN 0120-6230
e-ISSN 2422-2844
DOI: 10.17533/udea.redin.20230316
76

Así, la matriz unificada se convierte en una herramienta
fundamental para retratar las políticas públicas
ambientales, proporcionando medios para reconocer
las condiciones ambientales actuales de los recursos
hídricos afectados por actividades antrópicas. Los
resultados obtenidos permitirán que esta investigación
sea utilizada como fuente de referencia para estudios
académicos y técnicos que requieran evaluar los efectos
de los recursos hídricos, y como una herramienta que
pueda ser aplicada a otro cuerpo de agua.
1. Introduction
The Chicamocha River is the most important water
tributary in the Department of Boyacá in Colombia, since,
on its way, it crosses several municipalities [1], it has a
basin area of about 6127 km2 forming the Chicamocha
Canyon that enters the department of Santander and joins
the Suárez River and the Fonce River to finally form the
Sogamoso River [2]. It is important to point that, in the
surrounding section of the Vado-Castro sector, located
in the upper and middle basin of the river, extraction,
trade and transformation of mineral resources, industrial,
tourist, agricultural, and livestock sector activities are
concentrated, which generate negative impacts on the
environment. Besides the pollution associated with runoff
derived from these activities, large amounts of untreated
domestic waste contribute to the problem and add to the
fact that this water resource is the second most polluted
in the country [3, 4].
Even though the water quality problem of the Chicamocha
River is evident, greater clarity is needed on the individual
impact of each source of contamination. An Environmental
Impact Study (EIA) constitutes a tool for planning, ordering,
and decision-making on the actions of humans and/or
nature to preserve or maintain an offer of natural assets
for the sustainable development of society. The EIA
seeks to identify, describe, evaluate, and control the
effects that humans actions have on the environment,
including individuals as the main agent that induces
changes in the environment [5]. In this way, alterations
are produced, which must be analyzed to avoid damage
that can produce negative effects on the environment. In
other words, the EIA is a process designed to estimate the
impact that the execution of various business activities
may have [6]. When it comes to quantifying aspects
in the impact analysis, different methodologies can
be used, methodologies ranging from qualitative and
quantitative parameters partially or globally. The Leopold
matrix, Battelle Columbus, and the network diagram,
among others, are some of these tools [7]. Most of the
existing methodologies were designed and structured to
evaluate productive projects, whereas the evaluation of
the water resource is extremely limited [8]. Choosing the
environmental impact assessment methodology is one
of the main determinants to carry out an adequate EIA
[9]. EIA methodologies may not have uniform applicability
in all countries due to differences in their legislatures,
environmental standards, and environmental stewardship
programs [10].
Taking into account the need to appoint the impact
of individual sources on the Chicamocha River, it is
necessary to design a tool that allows a comprehensive
assessment of the environmental impact based on the
application of three methodologies and thus proposing a
standardized methodology that is adapted to the proper
evaluation of the environmental implications of the area.
2. Materials and methods
2.1 Study area
The study area is located in the Sugamuxi Province of the
Department of Boyacá, in the section corresponding to
the Vado-Castro sector, which belongs to the municipality
of Tópaga, one of the most contaminated routes of the
Chicamocha River. The geographical coordinates between
5° 45’ 27,20” N y 72° 54’ 45,85” O (Point 1) and 5° 46’
38,49” N and 72° 51’ 1,17” O (Point 3) (Figure 1). The
annual average temperature of the air is 15.5° C, being the
absolute maximum with a resulting value of 16.1 ° C and
the minimum of 14.8° C and the total average precipitation
of the three meteorological stations that are found in the
area (Belencito, Nobsa, and Sena) is 763,333 mm [11].
2.2 Environmental baseline and water
sampling
The establishment of the environmental baseline of the
study area was carried out using a qualitative checklist
that was designed according to the suggestions of [12]. To
identify representative biophysical characteristics such as
geological constitution, edaphic composition, air quality,
water quality and the biotic component of aquatic and
terrestrial ecosystems. The composition of fauna and
flora was determined by notification, the sighting of the
community, and a literature review.
A sample was taken in situ in the river, which was
analyzed by the laboratory certified by the Institute
of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies -
IDEAM, Servi Químicos EU and SGI Consultoría e Ingeniería
SAS (NIT 826.002.964), the date of sample taking was July
27, 2020, studying the following parameters: Biological
Oxygen Demand - BOD, Manganese, Escherechia coli,
Total Phenols, Nitrates, Phosphates, Chlorides, Hydrogen
Potential - pH, Conductivity, Magnesium, Chemical
Oxygen Demand - COD, Total Iron, and Turbidity, selected
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C. A. Corregidor-Fonseca et al., Revista Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Antioquia, No. 111, pp. 76-87, 2024
Figure 1 Map of the spatial location of the study area. Source: Image adapted from Google Earth. 2021
considering industrial activities and discharges that occur
in the Vado-Castro sector.
2.3 Analysis of data
The use of Geographic Information Systems - GIS as a
tool became very important in the development of the
study; the cartographic referencing programs used for
the research were: QGIS and ARGIS, and parameters and
variables typical of the two programs were taken into
account, but representing the same functionality, in the
case of the development of layers that represent each
of the polygons of the identified anthropic activities, GIS
tools (labels, coordinates, symbology, font size, color,
transparency, handling of lines, geographic images of
Google Earth, scales, add margins and grid) included in
the QGIS 3.4 Madeira programs [13] and ARCGIS 10.2
[14] for the development and publication of maps and
territorial coordinate systems MAGNA-SIRGAS (Colombian
reference system) used by Google Earth, QGIS and ARGIS
as authorized programs for their use by the Agustín
Codazzi Geographical Institute - IGAC, a cartographic
regulator entity in our country.
The analysis and processing of the data were carried out
through Microsoft Excel (2019) using algorithmic formulas
of simple application, and mathematical equations to
represent the existing relationships among the variables,
which, in the case of the EIA, correspond to the attributes
or characteristics of the impacts and also statistical
formulation with the use of linear equations, trends and
graphical representations, as well as the construction of
matrices that as indicated by [12] allows synthesizing the
attributes and variables that are commonly considered in
the EIA.
2.4 Applied Environmental Impact
Assessment Methodologies
To develop the environmental impact assessment phase
in the Chicamocha River in the Vado-Castro sector, three
widely known methodologies were used for this purpose:
the transparency overlay methodology, which includes
the determination of impact maps obtained through a
matrix. [15]. Their assessment is given by identifying of
the geographical space occupied by each anthropic activity
and its origin in the environmental impact [16]. Likewise,
the Leopold methodology was implemented [17, 18].
Basically, it is a matrix that presents, in the columns, the
actions of the project and, in the rows, the components
from the surroundings and their characteristics.
This matrix is one of the most used methods in the
EIA, for almost all types of projects. It is limited
to a list of 100 actions that can cause an impact
on the environment represented by columns and 88
environmental characteristics and conditions represented
by rows, which means a total of 8800 possible interactions.
However, in practice, not all of them are considered (topics
of Science and Technology, 2013). The Battelle Columbus
methodology considers four large ”environmental
categories” that include a total of eighteen ”environmental
components” for the environmental impact assessment
[19].
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C. A. Corregidor-Fonseca et al., Revista Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Antioquia, No. 111, pp. 76-87, 2024
2.5 Unified matrix
The proposed methodology has a quantitative and
qualitative development, which allows generating an
analysis according to the needs of environmental impact
assessment in the study area. Its development is
established through the convergence of representative
characteristics of the evaluated methodologies and
specific aspects that allow us to satisfactorily analyze,
assess, and demonstrate the qualification of anthropic
activities in the study area [20].
These Environmental Impact Assessment methodologies
were selected and developed under subjective valuation
parameters. Eight parameters were established
to propose objective and accurate conditions for
evaluating the environmental impact. The valuation
conditions assigned and recommended for environmental
assessment impact on the Chicamocha River, Vado-Castro
sector, are the following:
• Activity: it has a previous development from the
identification of the present anthropic activities
(industry, mining, agriculture, livestock, and
domestic activities).
• Proximity: proximity is determined based on a
numerical scale that allows contextualizing the
presence of anthropic activities in the study area. The
values taken conform to a scale from 0 to 9, with three
values of low, medium, and high representativeness,
together with a series of divisions depending on
the presence of activities in the study area; thus,
a scale of 0 to 3 is assigned to the value of low
representativeness, thus dividing it into: low-very
low (0), low-low (1), low-medium (2), and low-high
(3) with distinction in light-yellow color, 4 to 6 the
average value illustrated as follow: medium-low (4),
medium-medium (5), and medium-high (6) with a
dark-yellow color and 7 to 9 the highest identification
with these categories: high-low (7), high-medium (8),
and high-high (9), with a red color.
• Incidence: it has a valuation according to a scale
proposed for the assessment of water resources,
which allows establishing the durability and
occurrence of the environmental impact in the
anthropic activity carried out. Its valuation is
based on a scale from 0 to 9 divided into three
categories (low, medium, and high) and a series of
evaluative divisions that depends on the durability
and occurrence of the environmental impact, being 0
to 3 for the low evaluation, thus dividing into: low-very
low (0), low-low (1), low-medium (2), and low-high
(3) with distinction in light-yellow color, 4 to 6 the
average value illustrated as follow: medium-low (4),
medium-medium (5), and medium-high (6) with a
dark-yellow color and 7 to 9 the highest identification
with these categories: high-low (7), high-medium (8),
and high-high (9), with a red color. This parameter
allows determining the periodicity of the productive
sector in the study area.
• Affecting Actions: they were selected based on
the qualitative identification characteristics provided
by Leopold Matrix. [17]. This choice was made
taking into account the action that developed the
most significant impact for each of the anthropic
activities evaluated, being analyzed comparatively
through the determining application in Magnitude and
Importance.
• Elements of Affectation: these allow developing
a more detailed result of the components that
directly concern the study area due to anthropic
activity. This condition makes it possible to identify
the components that lead to the affectation of the
water resource, considering those with the most
significant environmental damage due to chemical
composition and physical characterization. This
way, a clear analysis of the environmental damage
with the highest environmental risk is obtained from
the physicochemical and microbiological analyses
established in the Battelle Columbus Matrix. [19]
• Assessment of Damage: its development is linked to
the identification of elements affected by anthropic
activities through the Environmental Quality - EQ
of the harmful element. The assessment can
be determined through a mathematical or graphic
development, a rating of 0 will be directly proportional
to a more significant environmental impact, and a
rating of 1 will be the least environmental impact or
implication.
• Weighted assessment of involvement: its
determination is subject numerically to the average
assessment of involvement multiplied by the number
of elements of affectation resulting from anthropic
activities, being an operational development that
manages to categorically represent the total
involvement of the activity developed in the study
area. The formula that represents it is:
Weighted Evaluation of the Impact
=Average Assessment of the Affectation x Number of
Elements of Affectation
• Alert signal: it constitutes the final score caused
by anthropic activity. Its categorical representation
is evaluated based on the result of the weighted
assessment of involvement; the scale proposed by
the warning sign in the matrix has the following
assessment: 0 to 2 very low with representation in
dark green, 2 to 3 low with light-green illustration, 3
to 4 medium with light-yellow hue, 4 to 5 high with
dark-yellow hue and 5 to 6 very high with red color.
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C. A. Corregidor-Fonseca et al., Revista Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Antioquia, No. 111, pp. 76-87, 2024
2.6 Derivative work statement
This work is derived from the degree work carried out by
the main author of this academic paper [20]. The writing
and complementary data of results and analysis contribute
to the co-authors input.
3. Results
3.1 Environmental baseline and water
sampling
The wastewater from urban areas and, specifically the
populated sector Vado-Castro, does not have sewage
systems, which generates significant contamination of the
water resource and soil. Mining, industrial, and domestic
discharges occur in the river without prior treatment,
thus increasing pollution. Agricultural and livestock
activities generate bad odors and represent a health risk
for the inhabitants due to agricultural use for irrigation of
crops [21]. (2a). The geology of the sector is represented
through the Guaduas formation [22]. Being the origin of
coal beds, sandstone intercalations, and blackish fissile
arcillites. There are moderately mountainous areas on
the sides of the hydrographic basin, predominating soils
of organic origin (sandy loam) and clay soil [23]. (2b). Air
quality is one of the most notorious problems in this area;
there are direct emissions from fixed sources identified
as: pottery company, iron and steel industry, cement
factories, coal and wood stoves. In a diagnosis on the
emissions generated by the different sources of pollution
in Sogamoso and its surroundings [24]. It was determined
that 56.39% of atmospheric pollutants are generated by
the pottery and, iron and steel industry (2c).
The fauna includes mammals such as Mustela nivalis
(Weasel), Oligoryzomys fulvescens (Mouse) and Anoura
geoffroyi (Bat) and birds such as Zonotrichia capensis
(Rufous-collared sparrow), Turdus merula (Blackbird) and
Hirundo rustica (Barn Swallow). Cold climate vegetation
is predominant, being the diversity of Eucalyptus
(Eucalyptus), Acacia melanoxylon (Australian Blackwood)
and Salix chilensis (Willow) the most representative
periodically [25].
Regarding the baseline for water quality, according to [26].
The monitoring of pollutants emitted by specific human
activities and the location of sources of contamination was
carried out through specific monitoring at strategic sites,
especially at industrial and residential discharge points.
In Table 1, the results obtained from the water quality
analysis are presented, which are the basis of the study for
the development of the Battelle Columbus methodology.
Table 1 Water quality analysis results
Parameters Valuation units Results Ref values
Res. 631/15
pH Units 7.15 6.0 – 9.0
Conductivity μS/cm 618 N/A
DBO5 mg/LO2 62 90
DQO mg/LO2 114 180
Chlorides mgCl/L 53.8 N/A
Phosphates mgPO3−
4 /L 2.63 N/A
Turbidity UNT 33.4 N/A
Total Iron mg Fe/L 1.53 N/A
Magnesium mg Mg/L 42.3 N/A
Nitrates mg N O3/L 39,6 N/A
Total dissolved solids mg/L 326 N/A
Potassium mg K+/L 13.167 0.950
Sodium mg Na+/L 88.223 0.900
Manganese mg /L 1.4771 0.087
Total Phenols mg /L <0.002 0.002
Escherichia coli UFC / 100 ml 100000 N/A
Table 2 Transparency overlay technique evaluation
Factors, parameters and / or aspects % of compliance
1. Biological conditions in fauna 24.00
and weighted proximity index
2. Biological conditions in flora 24.00
and plant cover
3. Land use in the hydrographic basin and 35.00
a reas or banks surrounding the river
4. Identification of anthropic activities 36.25
of affectation
5. Location of anthropic activities 90.00
of affectation
6. Quality of the water resource 1.00
7. Impact on and contamination 1.00
of water resources
8. Synergy of environmental 39.00
impacts on the river
9. Ecological relationship in dumping, solid waste 33.33
and deforestation in the area of influence
10. Cultural factors in dwelling 20.00
and social interaction
11. Factors of road, civil and public infrastructure, 40.00
and/or commercial services
12. Visual and landscape contamination in the area or 20.00
riverbank surrounding the tributary
3.2 Transparency Overlay Technique
This methodology made it possible to identify, in the
first instance, the anthropic activities developed in the
polygon area, obtaining the initial characterization through
the spatial location of the tasks carried out and that
generate impact on the water resource. In Figure 3, the
methodological application is presented graphically.
A compliance percentage is presented according to a
100% comparative scale between the three methodologies.
Table 2 indicates the rating by factors, parameters and/or
aspects for the transparency overlay technique.
3.3 Leopold Matrix
The percentage of compliance in the Leopold Matrix
of factors, parameters and/or aspects was determined
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Figure 2 a) Wastewater from urban areas and the populated sector of Vado-Castro. b) Geological constitution. c) Air quality.
Source: Authors
Figure 3 Overlay map of transparencies in the study area. Source: Adapted from Google Earth by the authors. 2020
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according to the comparative development scale (Table 3).
Table 3 Leopold Matrix evaluation
Factors, parameters and / or aspects % of compliance
1. Biological conditions in fauna 41.00
and weighted proximity index
2. Biological conditions in flora 42.00
and plant cover
3. Land use in the hydrographic basin and 36.00
a reas or banks surrounding the river
4. Identification of anthropic activities 43.75
of affectation
5. Location of anthropic activities 7.00
of affectation
6. Quality of the water resource 19.00
7. Contamination and impact 19.00
on water resources
8. Synergy of environmental 40.00
impacts on the river
9. Ecological relationship in dumping, solid waste 33.33
and deforestation in the area of influence
10. Cultural factors in dwelling 40.00
and social interaction
11. Factors of road, civil and public infrastructure, 40.00
and/or commercial services
12. Visual and landscape contamination in the area or 59.67
riverbank surrounding the tributary
3.4 Battelle Columbus Method
Compliance with the factors, parameters and / or aspects
in the Battelle Columbus method was calculated according
to the comparative scale (Table 4).
Table 4 Battelle Columbus Method Evaluation
Factors, parameters and / or aspects % of compliance
1. Biological conditions in fauna 32.00
and weighted proximity index
2. Biological conditions in flora 32.00
and plant cover
3. Land use in the hydrographic basin and 27.00
a reas or banks surrounding the river
4. Identification of anthropic activities 20.00
of affectation
5. Location of anthropic activities 2.00
of affectation
6. Quality of the water resource 80.00
7. Contamination and impact 80.00
on water resources
8. Synergy of environmental 20.00
impacts on the river
9. Ecological relationship in dumping, solid waste 33.33
and deforestation in the area of influence
10. Cultural factors in dwelling 39.00
and social interaction
11. Factors of road, civil and public infrastructure, 19.00
and/or commercial services
12. Visual and landscape contamination in the area or 20.00
riverbank surrounding the tributary
3.5 Proposed unified methodology
Compliance with the factors, parameters and/or aspects
according to the scale used comparatively is shown in the
proposed unified methodology (Table 5).
Table 5 Proposed unified methodology evaluation
Factors, parameters and / or aspects % of compliance
1. Biological conditions in fauna 97.00
and weighted proximity index
2. Biological conditions in flora 98.00
and plant cover
3. Land use in the hydrographic basin and 98.00
a reas or banks surrounding the river
4. Identification of anthropic activities 100.00
of affectation
5. Location of anthropic activities 99.00
of affectation
6. Quality of the water resource 100.00
7. Contamination and impact 100.00
on water resources
8. Synergy of environmental 99.00
impacts on the river
9. Ecological relationship in dumping, solid waste 99.67
and deforestation in the area of influence
10. Cultural factors in dwelling 99.00
and social interaction
11. Factors of road, civil and public infrastructure, 99.00
and/or commercial services
12. Visual and landscape contamination in the area or 99.67
riverbank surrounding the tributary
3.6 Percentage methodological evaluation
The comparison of the percentage of compliance with
each of the factors, parameters and/or aspects for the
three standard methodologies, as well as the proposal in
this study, were compared individually (Figure 4) and the
total summation (Figure 5).
According to the results obtained (Table 6), domestic
activity and mining activities feature the highest
warning signal by environmental category, followed
by the iron/steel industry, cement industry, service
and commerce, agricultural, electromechanical, and
automotive service, livestock, and transportation.
4. Discussion
The Chicamocha River is a highly important water
source for Colombians due to its coverage and scope
in agriculture, industry, and domestic use. However,
the contamination and damage caused by these same
activities are a reality. From this study, we were able
to verify the impact of anthropocentric activities on the
river, analyzing the Vado-Castro sector, through 3 standard
methodologies and an integrated proposal, the unified
matrix, which can be applied to other sectors of this river
and water resources. The EIA guided by this proposal
turns out to be a promising input for the development
of environmental policy and research projects and its
extrapolation to other studies is recommended. This
research highlights due a unified matrix was obtained
as an essential tool for policymaking because it adopts
the most objective conditions for EIA in the field. From
the assessed conditions of activity, proximity, incidence,
affecting actions, elements of affectation, assessment
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Figure 4 Comparison of percentages of compliance with the methodologies used in this study
Figure 5 Percentage contribution of each EIA methodology Source: Authors
of damage, weighted assessment of involvement, and
warning signal. The application of a unified matrix
generates an easy-to-interpret visual representation of
environmental impacts.
Domestic and mining activities constitute the
most significant source of contamination of the
Chicamocha River
Mining activities, whether associated with the production
of sands, clays, limestones, iron or coal, constitute a high
source of contamination for the water resource because
large amounts of water are used in their operational
processes to clean the minerals; they also use solvents
that facilitate extraction. Being the soil of the Department
of Boyacá, a great source of minerals for industrial or
construction use, positioning itself around the Chicamocha
River becomes strategic for obtaining and disposing of
water. In this way, the mining industry constitutes one
of the main sources of environmental problems at the
regional level, which is associated with little environmental
demand, failures or anomalies in the licensing process,
non-compliance with Environmental Management Plans
- EMP, absence of technical staff for environmental
management, little institutional commitment on the part
of the environmental authorities and the actors involved in
the management of the basin [27].
On the other hand, domestic activities become an
important problem because of the lack of education
of the users of the water resource, evidenced in the
overexploitation of the resource, uncontrolled discharges,
expressed in terms of reduction of flow, contamination
of the water resource, water scarcity, illegal catchments,
and the appearance of conflicts between users who are
competing for this resource.
Without neglecting the individual secondary sources
of contamination of the Chicamocha River, such as the
steel and cement industries, service and trade activities,
or agriculture, the results presented in this study become
a fundamental input for the creation and implementation
of environmental education policies and agro-industrial
regulation for the care of the resource. Additionally, the
characterization of ecosystem services and a study for the
application of environmental bonds could greatly mitigate
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C. A. Corregidor-Fonseca et al., Revista Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Antioquia, No. 111, pp. 76-87, 2024
Table 6 Unified matrix methodology
Proposed unified matrix methodology
Chicamocha River - Vado-Castro Sector
Activities Prox. Inc. Tur. pH. DBO. Man. Esc.
Col.
Fen
Tot.
Nit. Fos. Hie.
Tot.
Mag. Con. DQO. Ind.
Prox.
Fau.
Cob.
Veg.
Uso.
Sue.
Cir.
Clo. Cons.
Mat.
Bio
Cons.
Mat.
Pla.
Pob. Sat.
Vis.
Prom.
Val.
afec.
Pon.
Val.
Afec.
Señ. Aler.
Cat.
Domestic
Activity 7 6 0.073 0.979 0.225 NA 0 NA NA 0.895 NA NA 0.752 0.498 0.4 0.493 0.75 0.784 0.16 0.192 0.1 0.5 0.453 6.801 Very High
Sand Mining 7 6 0.073 0.979 0.225 0 0 0.728 0.208 0.895 NA 0 0.752 0.498 0.4 0.493 0.75 NA NA NA NA 0.5 0.433 6.501 Very High
Clay Mining 6 5 0.073 0.979 0.225 0 0 0.728 0.208 0.895 NA 0 NA 0.498 0.4 0.493 NA NA NA NA NA 0.5 0.357 4.642 Very High
Limestone
Mining 6 5 0.073 0.979 0.225 0 0 0.728 0.208 0.895 NA 0 0.752 0.498 0.4 0.493 0.75 NA NA NA NA 0.5 0.433 6.501 Very High
Iron Mining 6 6 0.073 0.979 0.225 0 0 0.728 0.208 0.895 0.198 0 0.752 0.498 0.4 0.493 0.75 NA NA NA NA NA 0.413 6.199 Very High
Coal Mining 6 6 0.073 0.979 0.225 0 0 0.728 0.208 0.895 NA 0 0.752 0.498 0.4 0.493 0.75 NA NA NA NA 0.5 0.433 6.501 Very High
Steel industry 7 1 NA 0.979 0.225 NA 0 0.728 0.208 NA 0.198 NA 0.752 NA 0.4 0.493 NA NA NA NA NA 0.5 0.448 4.483 High
Cement
industry 6 1 NA 0.979 0.225 NA 0 0.728 0.208 NA NA NA 0.752 NA 0.4 0.493 NA NA NA NA NA 0.5 0.476 4.285 High
Electromechanical
and
Automotive
Service
Activities
6 2 0.073 0.979 0.225 0 0 0.728 0.208 NA NA 0 0.752 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 0.5 0.347 3.465 Medium
Service and
Commerce
Activities
7 5 NA 0.979 0.225 NA 0 NA NA 0.895 NA NA NA 0.498 NA NA NA 0.784 0.16 0.192 NA 0.5 0.470 4.233 High
Agricultural
Activities 7 3 0.073 0.979 0.225 0 0 NA 0.208 0.895 NA NA NA 0.498 NA 0.493 0.75 NA NA NA NA NA 0.4121 4.121 High
Livestock
Activities 6 3 NA 0.979 0.225 NA 0 NA 0.208 0.895 NA NA 0.752 0.498 NA 0.493 NA NA NA NA NA NA 0.475 3.8 Medium
Transportation
Activities 6 3 0.073 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 0.752 NA 0.4 0.493 0.75 NA 0.16 0.192 NA 0.5 0.443 2.216 Low
84

C. A. Corregidor-Fonseca et al., Revista Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Antioquia, No. 111, pp. 76-87, 2024
the problem. Likewise, the environmental authority
must exercise control that guarantees compliance with
the regulations of specific discharges to surface water
bodies, as well as the regulated use of the resource,
because, although the users of the basin are aware of the
existing regulations, discharges that do not comply with
the parameters and permissible limits established in the
regulations, continue to be carried out [27].
The unified matrix is a new alternative for the
comprehensive EIA of any water resource
When developing the three EIA methodologies for the
case under study, it is of great importance to consider
both the determination and evaluation of the present
anthropic activities, as well as the process of assessing
the current state of the Chicamocha River. However, the
methodologies individually do not evaluate all the water
resource indices, which is due to the fact that each one
presents a characteristic evaluation method that does
not allow integration of these data. According to [28].
The Leopold methodology has the advantage of allowing
subjective estimation of impacts, which is possible
because it has a numerical scale that allows alternatives
to be compared, interactions to be determined, and project
actions to be identified. Regarding the disadvantages, in
addition to the degree of subjectivity used in the impact
assessment, it does not consider the ones that indirectly
concern projects or activities. The overlay methodology
has great advantages in geo-referencing and territorial
identification of anthropic activities developed in the study
area through GIS; it is a geographic-type methodology
that performs environmental assessment through the
spatial position of these damages and their direct and
indirect environmental implication in the water resource,
its disadvantages are manifested in the assessment and
characterization of the environmental implications of
damages identified by the activities carried out.
The Battelle Columbus method presents a quantitative
research approach, being its main advantage the use
of numerical values that can guarantee a complete
and comprehensive evaluation; that is, if parameter
monitoring and water quality analysis results are
delivered, the disadvantage is that, being a methodology
developed for the evaluation of water resources, it must
first consider the environmental categories and criteria to
be evaluated in other scenarios where such methodology
would be implemented, and when it does not involve the
evaluation of water quality parameters. Within the main
limitations of the techniques and instruments commonly
used for the evaluation of EIA, a tool is formulated to
integrate fundamental and objective characteristics in
the evaluation of the environmental impact on water
resources. Currently, research on EIA methodologies
in different fields is presented from the environmental
perspective; very few studies are presented that support
the comparative search and the methodologies application
for an evaluation in specific contexts. EIA research
presents methodological proposals in other fields or
sectors; in the case of the infrastructure field, there is a
qualitative methodological proposal towards the search
for proper development and productive approach for
projects in the country [29].
The proposed unified methodology brings together
the main characteristics of qualitative and quantitative
evaluation, which is why we consider a mixed research
approach, since the parameters under study, play an
important role in complementing the environmental
assessment that should be applied to a more detailed
evaluation of the damage presented, thus achieving the
mitigation of environmental damage.
The evaluation of environmental impacts in Colombia
does not have a rigorous scientific and technical study that
clearly determines the environmental assessment; it does
not take into account the richness in biodiversity and the
unique characteristics of the nation in this matter, which
makes the application of methodologies have its starting
point through methodologies of international scope and
the constant search for the most related, congruent and
affordable matrix development with the main objective
of the study become a necessity, this shows that the
non-guarantee is a constant of a successful evaluation
with the application of a single evaluation method in our
country [30].
5. Conclusions
As a result of the implementation of the unified
methodological matrix for the Environmental Impact
Assessment, it is possible to propose lines of action
oriented to the formulation and execution of basin
management and regulation plans that consider
qualitative, quantitative, and geographical aspects of
water resources. This is relevant for the implementation
of policy projects within the framework of integrated water
resources management and environmental research.
Recognizing the importance that the Chicamocha
River represents as an axis of economic, social,
and environmental development, the environmental
authorities must guarantee compliance with the uses
established in the framework of the PORH (by its acronym
in Spanish - Water Resource Management Plans) planning
and regulation plan documents, and the provisions of
the POMCA (by its acronym in Spanish - Watershed
Ordinance and Management Plans). Likewise, this must
be complying with the execution of the projects, building
indicators that allow evaluation of their real progress
85

C. A. Corregidor-Fonseca et al., Revista Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Antioquia, No. 111, pp. 76-87, 2024
and the achievement of the decontamination goals of
this important water resource for the Municipality and
the Department. The use of the unified matrix for the
Evaluation of Environmental Impacts could be used in
other contexts, in which parametric variables are also
integrated; As in the case of air quality assessment,
where the results of monitoring of atmospheric pollutant
emissions can be integrated as input for the analysis,
it could even be a tool to verify environmental impact
assessment studies that have already been carried out
based on other methods. Additionally, the unified matrix
allowed determining the real condition of a water resource
affected by anthropic activities. Consequently, it has
become an essential tool for environmental public policies
through policymaking for the prevention, mitigation, and
solution of environmental pollution.
6. Declaration of competing interest
We declare that we have no significant competing interests,
including financial or non-financial, professional, or
personal interests that interfere with the full and objective
presentation of the work described in this paper.
7. Acknowledments
This work had the support of the National Open and
Distance University UNAD, the authors express their
gratitude to the students who make up the ZUEBOY
Metamorfo University Research Seedbed of the COBIDES
Group , for their sense of collaboration and support in the
field work and other activities, so that this research could
be carried out.
8. Funding
This work was supported by; the National Open and
Distance University UNAD and the Metamorfo ZUEBOY
seedbed.
9. Author contributions
Each author contributed significantly to the research
process and the construction of the article. The main
author contributes his undergraduate degree project as
a fundamental input from which this written document
is derived, as well as the co-authors provided advice
in the research process for the construction of the
project. Contributions to the paper: Camilo Alejandro
Corregidor Fonseca: Gathering information for EIA,
EIA matrix preparation and unified matrix formulation.
Biviana Esperanza Rocha Gil: Analysis of statistical data,
advisory in gathering information and writing of this
paper. Juan Sebastián Chiriví Salomon: Preparation of
discussion section, advisory in method application and
writing and translation of this paper. Guisett Adelina
Gómez Siachoque: Coordination of Project, advisory in EIA
application and writing of this paper.
10. Data availability statement
The data were collected in the area under study ”Sector
Vado Castro” which corresponds to a section of the
lower-middle basin of the Chicamocha River in the the
Municipality of Tópaga, Department of Boyacá, during the
period between February and October 2020. The origin
of the data corresponds to the information gathering
activities through primary sources of information
(dialogues with the community in the project’s area
of influence, application of surveys, field visits to collect
biotic and abiotic information through instruments
such as checklists, interviews, survey, monitoring and
characterization of physicochemical and microbiological
parameters of the water source) and secondary sources
of information through which the different existing
methodologies for the evaluation of environmental
impacts and the bases for the proposed unified matrix
were investigated.
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