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Hydrogeological research on intensively exploited deep aquifers in the ‘Loma de Úbeda’ area (Jaén, southern Spain)

Recherche hydrogéologique dans les aquifères profonds intensément exploités de la région de ‘Loma de Úbeda’ (Jaén, Espagne du Sud)

Investigación hidrogeológica en acuíferos profundos intensamente explotados en el área de ‘Loma de Úbeda’ (Jaén, sur de España)

Investigação hidrogeológica em aquíferos profundos intensamente explorados na área de ‘Loma de Úbeda’ (Jaén, sul de Espanha)

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An Erratum to this article was published on 06 April 2013

Abstract

The intensive use of groundwater for irrigation in the area of Úbeda (‘Loma de Úbeda’, Jaén, southern Spain) has transformed an area of traditionally rain-fed dry farmland into fields with some of the highest olive oil productivity in the world. Early hydrogeological research studies, initiated just after the beginning of the groundwater exploitation, revealed that the water was collected from three different overlapping aquifers occupying an area of over 1,100 km2, with the lower aquifers located at depths from 300 to over 700 m in an area of 440 km2. Multidisciplinary research, based on geological characterization, and piezometric, hydrochemical and isotopic data, has led to a conceptual model of functioning in this complex hydrogeological system. The proposed model allows for the identification of the recharge areas, and the discharge, which is at present mainly associated with the groundwater pumping. Areas of mixing of waters from the different aquifers and the main hydrogeochemical processes affecting groundwater quality are described.

Résumé

L’utilisation intensive de l’eau souterraine pour l’irrigation dans la région de Úbeda (‘Loma de Úbeda’, Jaén, Espagne du Sud) a transformé une zone de terre cultivée sèche traditionnellement alimentée par la pluie en domaines ayant parmi les plus fortes productivités en huile d’olive au monde. Les premières études hydrogéologiques, commencées immédiatement après le début de l’exploitation de l’eau souterraine, ont révélé que l’eau était prélevée dans trois aquifères différents superposés s’étendant sur une aire d’environ 1 100 km2, les aquifères inférieurs étant situés à des profondeurs comprises entre 300 m et plus de 700 m sur une superficie de 440 km2. Une recherche multidisciplinaire, basée sur une caractérisation géologique et des données piézométriques, hydrochimiques et isotopiques, a conduit à un modèle conceptuel du fonctionnement de ce système hydrogéologique complexe. Le modèle proposé autorise l’identification des zones de recharge et de décharge, celle-ci surtout associée actuellement au pompage de l’eau souterraine. Des zones de mélange des eaux provenant des différents aquifères et les principaux processus hydrogéochimiques influençant la qualité de l’eau souterraine sont décrits.

Resumen

La explotación intensiva del agua subterránea para riego, en la comarca de la Loma de Úbeda (Jaén, sur de España), ha permitido transformar un área de cultivo tradicional de secano en una de las zonas con mayor productividad de aceite de oliva del mundo. Los primeros trabajos de investigación hidrogeológica, iniciados con posterioridad al comienzo de la explotación del agua subterránea, han permitido comprobar que ésta proviene de tres acuíferos superpuestos que se extienden en un área superior a 1100 km2 con los acuíferos inferiores situados entre 300 y más de 700 m de profundidad en unos 440 km2. La investigación multidisciplinar, basada en datos piezométricos, hidroquímicos e isotópicos que se ha realizado ha permitido establecer un modelo conceptual de funcionamiento en este complejo sistema hidrogeológico El modelo propuesto permite identificar las áreas de recarga y descarga, las cuales están en la actualidad asociadas principalmente con el bombeo del agua subterránea. Se describen las áreas de mezcla de aguas de diferentes acuíferos y los principales procesos hidrogeoquímicos que afectan la calidad del agua subterránea.

Resumo

O uso intensivo de água subterrânea para rega na área de Úbeda (“Loma de Úbeda”, Jaén, sul da Espanha) transformou uma área de terras tradicionalmente de sequeiro em olivais cujas produtividades de azeite estão entre as mais elevadas no mundo. Os primeiros estudos hidrogeológicos, iniciados logo após o início da exploração subterrânea, revelaram que a água era extraída de três aquíferos diferentes que se sobrepõem e que ocupam uma área superior a 1,100 km2, com os aquíferos inferiores localizados a profundidades de 300 a mais de 700 m, numa área de 440 km2. A investigação multidisciplinar, baseada na caraterização geológica e em dados piezométricos, hidroquímicos e isotópicos, resultou num modelo conceptual do funcionamento deste sistema hidrogeológico complexo. O modelo proposto permite a identificação das áreas de recarga e descarga, estas últimas principalmente associadas às extrações de água. Descrevem-se aqui as zonas de mistura de águas dos diferentes aquíferos e os principais processos hidrogeoquímicos que afetam a qualidade das águas subterrâneas.

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Acknowledgements

The research efforts in this report are part of a cooperative agreement between the Guadalquivir River Basin Authority (CHG) and the Geological Survey of Spain (IGME). Isotope analyses were performed at the Isotopic Laboratory Applications of the CEDEX in the framework of an agreement between IGME-CEDEX for a Joint Laboratory of Isotope Science and Technology. We thank Javier Serrano, Juan Antonio López Geta and Juan Carlos Rubio Campos for their interest in promoting the development of these studies. We are likewise grateful to Alberto Moreno for his contribution in field sampling, to Javier Heredia, Alfredo Garcia de Domingo and Francisco Roldán for their field assistance and geological revision, to Marife Díaz Tejeiro for her assistance in isotopic analysis, and to David Pulido for his review of the translation of this report. We thank the reviewers for comments that contributed to the improvement of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geological Survey of Spain, Urb Alcázar del Genil, 4 Edf. Zulema bajo, Granada, Spain

    Antonio González-Ramón & Sergio Martos-Rosillo

  2. Centre for Studies and Experimentation of Public Engineering, CEDEX, C/Alfonso XII, 3, Madrid, Spain

    Javier Rodríguez-Arévalo

  3. C/. Torre de las Cabezas 1, esc. 3, 3º D, Granada, Spain

    Javier Gollonet

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  1. Antonio González-Ramón
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  2. Javier Rodríguez-Arévalo
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  3. Sergio Martos-Rosillo
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  4. Javier Gollonet
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Correspondence to Antonio González-Ramón.

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González-Ramón, A., Rodríguez-Arévalo, J., Martos-Rosillo, S. et al. Hydrogeological research on intensively exploited deep aquifers in the ‘Loma de Úbeda’ area (Jaén, southern Spain). Hydrogeol J 21, 887–903 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-013-0957-4

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