Hydrogeochemical characterization of surface water in the basin of the river Acahuapa department of San Vicente, El Salvador

Abstract

This study was conducted in order to expand the knowledge hidrogeoquimico of the aquifer in the area of the Sub-basin of the Acahuapa River, in the Department of San Vicente, which includes the municipalities of San Vicente, San Cayetano Istepeque, Tepetitán, Verapaz, Guadalupe, San Esteban Catarina, Santa Clara and Apastepeque. Likewise, it is part of the hydrographic Region of the Lempa River, one of the most important in the country. The current population located in the Sub-basin is approximately 112,236 inhabitants, which represents 80% of the population of the Department of San Vicente. Samples of 10 points in the surface waters of the water supply of the Sub-basin were collected. The samplings were carried out in the dry and rainy season during the period of February 2011 to August 2012. The parameters analyzed data of cations (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe total) and anions (HCO^-₃, Cl^-, SO^-2₄, CaCO₃^-2), as well as carbonates were to determine the balance of mass and CO2 gas flow. In addition, physicochemical parameters of temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH and electrical conductivity. Such analyses are sufficient for the study of the main chemical processes in most of the aquifers and their relationships with the hydrological systems. In general it was concluded that the chemical behaviour of the aquifer in the Sub-basin of the Acahuapa River in both rainy and dry seasons, is similar, and that the ruling families of water are bicarbonate calcium and magnesium bicarbonates. The bicarbonate waters are bad for irrigation due to the fixing of ions in the soil and creating an alkaline medium.

Rev. iberoam. bioecon. cambio clim. Vol. 1 num 2, 2015, pág. 139-148