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Management and Aquifer Protection


Hydrogeology, a branch of the geological sciences, allows us to study the origin and formation of groundwater, forms of deposit, its distribution, movement and reserve, their interaction with soil and rocks and its physical, chemical and biological properties. A hydro geological study is also necessary to know the conditions governing their use and regulation.

As a field of action for Corporación Ambiental de México, SA de CV (CAM), Hydro geology is a tool that allows us to provide consulting services for the implementation of strategies of management and protection of AQUIFERS.

Large food and drink companies with process that require a continuous supply of water, need to develop these studies to obtain or renew their permission for the extraction of the vital liquid, through concessions granted by the federal authorities in Mex

Management and Aquifer Protection
The aquifers are a very important source of water for human and industrial concentrations. Groundwater constitutes a support for ecosystems. As the population or industry grows and the use of land becomes more extensive, the demand for alternate sources of water increases. Effective management of groundwater requires a clear understanding of the quantity, quality, and vulnerability of the liquid in groundwater systems. .

CAM has incorporated various techniques of management and protection of aquifers based on the assessment of local and regional hydrological resources, and also in a comprehensive program of risk reduction to maintain the sustainability of the aquifer used as a source of water supply and as a component of the hydrological cycle.

 

The strategies for the management and protection of aquifers include one or more of the following aspects:

1.- Land use policies
2.- Regulatory controls
3.- The best management practices
4.- Environmental monitoring
5.- Prevention/contingency plan
6.- Public communication
7.- Characterization of the aquifer
8.- Risk assessment
9.- Evaluation of sensitivity
10.- Vulnerability assessment
11.- Location of recharge areas
12.- Potential contamination
13.- Potential impact to the ecosystem
14.- Historical, current and projected water use
15.- Aquifer modeling

 


Aquifer Characterization

The development and definition of a conceptual geologic model is essential for the characterization of an aquifer. The geological base model is the Guide for hidrostatigraphic modeling as well as the delimitation of the extension of the aquifer and the interaction with other systems.

The characterization of an aquifer adds the following information:
• Field levels (wells) data
• Previous studies
• Regional cartography

This is integrated through the use of a system of geographic information (GIS). It is a tool that allows us to have access to more pre-existing geographic information of the zones or areas of study, resulting in accurate and reliable characterization.

Vulnerability of the Aquifer
Understanding the vulnerability of the aquifer pollution is an essential component to protect the quality of the sources of water supply. A thorough investigation is necessary in any assessment of the vulnerability of aquifers. The basic characteristics that control the natural vulnerability of the cloaks are as follows:

• Hydraulic conductivity
• Depth of the phreatic level

Once these properties are identified, they are used to determine the migration of contaminants on the surface of the ground towards the underlying aquifer.

Modeling of Aquifers
The ability of current software and regional characterization of aquifers through SIGs, have contributed to the development and implementation of mathematical regional models using advanced finite elements with much greater capacity than traditional models. This has enabled us to evaluate potential impacts such as:

• Climate change
• Extreme drought conditions
• Agricultural activities

Models help to improve the decision-making process and the selection of measures of mitigation or compensatory.

 


Risk Assessment

Knowing the surface activities that could impact the quality of groundwater in combination with the assessment of vulnerability of the aquifer help us to identify areas where there is greater risk of contamination of the aquifer.

Risk assessment is also used for:
1.- Risk reduction
2.- Implementation of programs of exploitation and extraction of water.
3.- Information to the community

Definition and Delimitation of Aquifer Protection Areas

The definition and delimitation of the areas of protection are a key component in a comprehensive groundwater protection plan. Plans differ according to the region being studied and should be suitable to the characteristics of each place.

The implementation of areas of protection of aquifers is crucial in the establishment of a comprehensive plan for the management and protection of this increasingly scarce resource.

The comprehensive plan for the management and protection of water resources is used for planning related to the use of land as well as we have already mentioned it to industrial and urban activities. It is an indispensable tool in the selection and implementation of the strategies of planning and development.

 
 
 
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