Hydrochemistry of groundwater from Tocumen sector, Panamá city: an assessment of its possible usage during emergency events

Abstract

In Panama City, the water supply sources for the population come mainly from surface waters, but in times of drought and extreme natural phenomena, the need to resort to underground sources is explored. This paper concerns an exploratory investigation with the aim of assessing the quality of groundwater in the southeastern part of the Province of Panama and to determine its possible use as drinking water during extreme natural phenomena. Monthly monitoring over a period of 15 months was carried out. The study included the sampling and analysis of groundwater by different physic-chemical, hydrochemical and biological parameters. The results showed that most of the parameters in the analysed groundwater conformed to the Panamanian drinking water norm and the water potability diagram, this is a convenient source of raw water for purification. As for other uses for this water source, it should be used with caution since it represents a medium risk of soil salinization for irrigation water; and it is a moderately hard water for industrial uses.