Evaluation of the Influence of the Balance of Hydro Geochemical Constituents on the Sustainable Use of Water from the San Diego Aquifer in the Period 2015 – 2018

Abstract

The present work aims to analyze and interpret the constituents or hydro-geological, physical, and chemical parameters of the San Diego aquifer, to characterize it, and determine its influence on the sustainable use of groundwater for supplying the population that inhabits the San Diego municipality, Carabobo State, Venezuela. The San Diego municipality covers most of the aquifer area and is an area of high urban development that currently requires groundwater supply due to the deficit of the main supply associated with the Central Regional System. The aquifer is a set of geological strata located within the limits of the San Diego River basin, which is capable of storing groundwater and transmitting it. Data on lithology, porosity, pumping level were investigated, which allow calculating an estimate of the volume of available water in the aquifer. Regarding water quality, data on hardness, chlorides, sulfates, nitrates, conductivity, calcium, magnesium, pH, show that the water towards the center and north of the aquifer is of good quality, while towards the extreme south, this is of lower quality, where the mineral parameters are higher, which is related to probable intrusion of the brackish water of the Valencia Lake. It is concluded by establishing that the volume of groundwater, its availability, extraction feasibility, and its quality make it suitable for urban supply and that the extraction is sustainable. Although better-integrated management must be designed, considering the contribution of the Center's Regional System and the adaptation of the distribution networks.