Remote Sensing Based Analysis of Changes in Water Quality - Case Study at Quintero Bay (Chile)

During the last couple of years, Quintero Bay, in the Valparaíso region, has been affected by contamination due to continuous discharge of industrial wastewater into the waters. One of the contaminants present in the water are suspended solids. These are particles composed of organic and inorganic matter that may contain toxic and harmful substances, also characterize water and are associated with its colour. In the present study, Quintero Bay contamination was analysed between 2014 and 2016 with multispectral Landsat 8 images and on-site data from the Coastal Environment Observation Program (POAL) to validate the spectral indices and establish regression models to estimate the concentrations of suspended solids. Our results, based on NDSSI (Normalized Difference Suspended Sediment Index) and NSMI (Normalized Suspended Material Index)) spectral index calculation, confirm that between 2014 and 2016 continuous wastewater discharge caused all year long contamination. This contamination can be associated to the nearby industry.