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Intrinsic aquifer vulnerability assessment: validation by environmental tracers in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

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Environmental Geology

Abstract

Vulnerability maps are important tools for water decision makers and land-use planners for protection of aquifers against contamination. The vulnerability map, according to the parametric method SINTACX for assessing intrinsic aquifer vulnerability, was validated in a case study with chlorofluorocarbon tracer technologies (CFC-11, CFC-12, and CFC-113) of groundwater. The tested area was the 1,295 km2 volcano-sedimentary area of San Miguel de Allende (SMA), Mexico. From the results of this area, it appears that the vulnerability map is in parts inconsistent with the underlying groundwater flow system. Thus, the vulnerability map was corrected with tracer information. The validated vulnerability map indicates that the degree of vulnerability varies from low to moderate-high. Low vulnerability values are found in the graben extending from north to south along the SMA fault system and high values in recharge areas southeast and northwest of the study area. The investigation is a demonstration that the scientific reliability of results of the parametric method can be improved by validation with tracer techniques representing the groundwater dynamics. The flexible structure of SINTACX allows revising and adjusting scores and weights of the parameter maps to rebuild a new vulnerability map consistent with the hydrological system.

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Acknowledgments

The analytical results used in this article were obtained during the project investigation under contract no. 02/16-CEAG/SDA/CONCyTEG-064, co-funded by Comisión Estatal del Estado de Guanajuato (CEAG), Consejo de Ciencia y Tecnología de Guanajuato (CONCyTEG), and Secretaría de Desarrollo Agropecuario (SDA). We thank Lars GE Backstrom for his comments to the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Estudios del Agua, Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada No. 2501, C.P. 64849, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico

    Jürgen Mahlknecht

  2. Centro de Investigaciones en Química Inorgánica, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Mexico

    Ma. Guadalupe Medina-Mejía

  3. Centro Interamericano de Investigaciones de Recursos del Agua, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Toluca, Edo. de México, Mexico

    Jaime Gárfias-Solis

  4. Facultad de Química, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Mexico

    Irene Cano-Aguilera

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  1. Jürgen Mahlknecht
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  2. Ma. Guadalupe Medina-Mejía
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  3. Jaime Gárfias-Solis
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  4. Irene Cano-Aguilera
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Correspondence to Jürgen Mahlknecht.

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Mahlknecht, J., Medina-Mejía, M.G., Gárfias-Solis, J. et al. Intrinsic aquifer vulnerability assessment: validation by environmental tracers in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Environ Geol 51, 477–491 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-006-0344-8

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