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Hydrogeochemistry and isotope analyses used to determine groundwater recharge and flow in low-gradient catchments of the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina

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Abstract

The region known as Pampa Plain, in Argentina, is a vast area characterized by slopes of less than 0.05%. The surface sediment is silty sand, mainly Aeolian, referred to as Pampean Loess, which is a phreatic aquifer unit of utmost importance for the water supply of the region. On account of the slight gradient, hydrogeological analyses using only hydraulic measurements are difficult to perform, often leading to confusing results. Thus, the study presented relies on hydrochemical modeling and isotopic determinations as well. The study area comprises three catchments in the inter-mountainous area corresponding to El Moro, Tamangueyú and Seco creeks, and covering 2,570 km2 in the province of Buenos Aires. Measurements of piezometric levels and samples of groundwater, surface water and rainwater were carried out between January and March 2005. Major ion results were analyzed by means of hydrochemical graphs and hydrogeochemical modelling using NETPATH. The resulting data show that it is possible to identify local changes in recharge, flow direction and stream/groundwater relationship by using hydrochemical and isotopic information, which may become a useful and more precise tool for the study of particularly flat landscapes.

Résumé

La région connue sous le nom de Pampa Plain, en Argentine, est une vaste région caractérisée par des pentes inférieures à 0.05%. Le sédiment de surface est du sable silteux, essentiellement éolien, attribué au Pampa Loess, qui est une unité de nappe phréatique de toute importance pour l’alimentation en eau de la région. Du fait du faible gradient, les analyses hydrogéologiques utilisant uniquement des mesures hydrauliques sont difficiles à réaliser, conduisant souvent à des résultats confus. Ainsi, la présente étude se base sur la modélisation hdrochimique ainsi que sur des déterminations isotopiques. La région d’étude comprend trois bassins versants à l’intérieur de la région montagneuse correspondant aux petits cours d’eau El Moro, Tamangueyú et Seco, et s’étendant sur 2.570 km2 dans la province de Buenos Aires. Des mesures de niveaux piézométriques et des échantillons d’eau souterraine, d’eau de surface et d’eau de pluie ont été réalisés entre Janvier et Mars 2005. Les résultats pour les ions majeurs ont été exploités au moyen de graphiques hydrochimiques et de modélisation hydrogéochimique utilisant NETPATH. Les données obtenues montrent qu’il est possible d’identifier des variations locales de la recharge, de la direction d’écoulement et des relations cours d’eau/eau souterraine en utilisant les connaissances hydrochimiques et isotopiques, qui peuvent devenir un outil utile et plus précis pour l’étude de terrains particulièrement plats.

Resumen

La región llamada Llanura Pampeana, en Argentina, es un área extensa caracterizada por pendientes de menos del 0.05%. Los sedimentos superficiales son arenas limosas, principalmente de origen eólico, conocidos como Loess Pampeano, y constituyen una unidad acuífera que tiene una importancia fundamental para el suministro de agua a la región. Teniendo en cuenta los bajos gradientes topográficos, el análisis hidrogeológico es difícil de realizar usando solamente mediciones hidráulicas, y a menudo conducen a resultados confusos. Por ello, este trabajo se apoya en modelaciones hidrogeoquímicas y determinaciones isotópicas. El área de estudio comprende tres cuencas en áreas intermontañosas que corresponden a los arroyos El Moro, Tamangueyú y El Seco, ocupando 2,570 km2 en la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Las mediciones de los niveles freáticos y la toma de muestras de agua subterránea, agua superficial y agua de lluvia se llevaron a cabo entre Enero y Marzo de 2005. Los resultados de las concentraciones de los iones mayoritarios se analizaron mediante gráficos hidroquímicos y modelación hidrogeoquímica basada en NETPATH. Los resultados muestran que, mediante el uso de información isotópica e hidroquímica, es posible identificar variaciones locales de la recarga, dirección del flujo y relaciones río-acuífero, lo que constituye una herramienta útil y más precisa para el estudio de ambientes en llanuras.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the financial support of the Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (National Agency for Scientific and Technological Promotion) through PICT 2003 7-13891,CONICET (PIP 5668) as well as by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). We are also thankful to the Committee of the Quequén River Basin for its support in the periodic sampling of the different effluents, and to Prof. Teresita Betancur, who greatly collaborated with isotopic data processing and with the critical review of this manuscript.

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Correspondence to O. M. Quiroz Londoño.

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Quiroz Londoño, O.M., Martínez, D.E., Dapeña, C. et al. Hydrogeochemistry and isotope analyses used to determine groundwater recharge and flow in low-gradient catchments of the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Hydrogeol J 16, 1113–1127 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-008-0289-y

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