Abstract
In order to study the origin of the salinity and the salinization mechanisms that operate in the Pliocene Aloha Aquifer, hydrochemical and isotopic environmental techniques have been used, due to their known effectiveness and usefulness in the identification of water-rock interaction processes, location of recharge zones and its origin. Analyzing major ions, trace elements, ionic ratios and isotopic ratios of the elements of the water molecule, stable isotopes (δ18O and δ2H) and δ18O and δ34S of sulphate. Previous hydrochemical studies of the Pliocene Aloha Aquifer indicate high concentrations of Cl- and Na+ as well as HCO3, SO4 and Ca that should be indicated the interaction with waters of highersalinity, but also with rocks (longer residence time in the aquifer). Therefore, as a starting hypothesis, two possible origins of the high salinity are considered: mixture with seawater or connate waters stored in Pliocene formations. Finally, the study confirmed that the salinity of the Aloha Aquifer is of a localcharacteristic and not due to seawater intrusion.
Highlights
To adapt aquifer management plans to allow the sustainable use of water resources, it is necessary to determine the origin of the aquifer's salinity in order to apply the appropriate corrective actions
Data published by Argamasilla et al, 2017 (Marbella-Estepona aquifers) had been used to complement the study, where 6 water groups are differentiated for their chemical characteristics
It can be observed that the samples from the Río Verde Aquifer are less mineralized since they come from the direct infiltration of the rain and the flow through the Verde River resulting from the discharge of La Concepción dam (Figure 1)
Summary
In 1995 one of the worst droughts of recent times occurred in this area, where the water table levels fall 44 m below sea level, reaching electrical conductivity (EC) values around 10 mS/cm in the deeper wells. Salinization of coastal aquifers is a global problem that concerns concessionaires, operators and exploiters as well as the scientific community, as it affects the quality of the water resource due to the processes of saline intrusion during periods of drought. This problem is even more pronounced in vacation areas, such as Marbella, where the population can be doubled or even tripled in summer, 2.
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