Abstract
Land use changes are currently one of the indisputable factors in the alteration of processes and cycles of the aquifer system in the San Luis Potosi Valley. Due to its importance, is considered indispensable to investigate this detrimental factor of aquifers. The aim of this research is to use a numerical flow model to analyze the impact that land use changes have had on the aquifer. A finite differences numerical model was adapted to the size and hydrological properties of the aquifer system. It consisted of a regular grid with 30 columns and 34 rows with constant spacing of 1000 meters. It has two layers; the first includes the shallow aquifer and the second, the deep aquifer. The initial hydraulic head of the model corresponds to 1986 and was verified for 1995 and 2007. The model shows the development of a drawdown cone (central valley) extending toward the industrial area (southern valley). Piezometric water levels revealed a decrease of 0.6 to 1.6 meters annually during a period from 1977 to 2007. This work demonstrates that it is the consequence of land use changes and of the incessant overall decline in groundwater reserves. Based on the flow model, population growth projections and water use change, the calculated predictions indicate that by 2021, the total established volume of 136 Mm3/year for consume will be reached. The flow model of the San Luis Potosi Valley aquifer system shows a clear effect of the risks associated with aquifer mining.
Highlights
The San Luis Potosí Valley (SLPV) aquifer is located in the southwest region of the state of San Luis Potosí (SLP), with an approximate area of 1,980 km2
The combined municipalities of SLP and Soledad de Graciano Sánchez (SGS), which embraces the urban area of the valley and they require the main demand for water, grew 30% between 1950 and 1970
With the application of the flow model, it was possible to show that the induced recharge has a greater effect than the natural recharge, especially on the shallow aquifer, while for the deep aquifer both types of recharge have minimal or no effect
Summary
The San Luis Potosí Valley (SLPV) aquifer is located in the southwest region of the state of San Luis Potosí (SLP), with an approximate area of 1,980 km. In the early 19th century, wells supplied water to the population of SLP (Sheridan-Prieto, 2001). By 1960, 59% of domestic water was supplied by the shallow aquifer and 41% by the deep aquifer. The supply sources have changed dramatically in recent years so that 92% of the water is obtained from the subsoil and only 8% from surface water (COTAS, 2005). The combined municipalities of SLP and Soledad de Graciano Sánchez (SGS), which embraces the urban area of the valley and they require the main demand for water, grew 30% between 1950 and 1970. Between 1970 and 1980, a staggering population increase of more than 50% was recorded www.ccsenet.org/jgg
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