Abstract
The Mezquital Valley (MV) hosts the largest unmanaged aquifer recharge scheme in the world. The metropolitan area of Mexico City discharges ~60 m3/s of raw wastewater into the valley, a substantial share of which infiltrates into the regional aquifer. In this work, we aim to develop a comprehensive approach, adapted from oil and gas reservoir modeling frameworks, to assess water supply sources located downgradient from unmanaged aquifer recharge zones. The methodology is demonstrated through its application to the Mezquital Valley region. Geological, geoelectrical, petrophysical and hydraulic information is combined into a 3D subsurface model and used to evaluate downgradient supply sources. Although hydrogeochemical variables are yet to be assessed, outcomes suggest that the newly-found groundwater sources may provide a long-term solution for water supply. Piezometric analyses based on 25-year records suggest that the MV is close to steady-state conditions. Thus, unmanaged recharge seems to have been regulating the groundwater balance for the last decades. The transition from unmanaged to managed recharge is expected to provide benefits to the MV inhabitants. It will also be likely to generate new uncertainties in relation to aquifer dynamics and downgradient systems.
Highlights
Aquifer exploration and water supply evaluation is a key challenge in low- and mid-income countries [1,2,3], where the characterization of potential groundwater sources is still needed and where a spectacular increase in groundwater use has occurred in the past decades [4].Groundwater exploration is usually most needed in arid regions
The methodology is illustrated through its application to a semiarid assessing groundwater supply sources
The study area corresponds to the Alfajayucan aquifer system (Figure 1b,c), which in turn is located downstream from the Mezquital Valley, central Mexico (Figure 1c)
Summary
Groundwater exploration is usually most needed in arid regions. This is because scanty rainfall and high evapotranspiration rates tend to make surface sources unreliable. In these areas, aquifers play an essential role in ensuring sustainability, whenever unregulated recharge schemes are. 22of play an essential role in ensuring sustainability, whenever unregulated recharge schemes involved. This paper focuses on developing a comprehensive and transferable approach approach to assessing are involved. On developing a comprehensive and transferable to groundwater supply sources. The methodology is illustrated through its application to a semiarid assessing groundwater supply sources.
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