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Impacts of urbanization on groundwater hydrodynamics and hydrochemistry of the Toluca Valley aquifer (Mexico)

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Abstract

The Toluca Valley is located on the high plains of Mexico, where there are significant industrial zones and large populations. Water needs are almost exclusively met by groundwater, which has brought about intense exploitation of the aquifer and indication of some contamination. The present study investigates the effect of urbanization, related to industrialization of the region, on groundwater in the central portion of the Toluca Valley aquifer—a zone with high population density and where the largest industrial park is located. A general decline in the groundwater level has been found over the years, at a rate of as much as 2.5 m/year. The appearance of a large drawdown cone was identified, indicating changes in the direction of groundwater flow. Also identified was the presence of several ground fissures, the location of which coincided with the drawdown cone. In hydrochemical terms, the water type is sodium-magnesium bicarbonate and this characteristic has not changed over time, although it has been possible to detect the presence of larger quantities of sulfates (up to 117 mg/L) and nitrates (up to 47 mg/L) in recent years, likely associated with contamination from industrial and urban wastewater. Factor analysis made it possible to identify ions that would characterize natural processes involving the acquisition of salts (HCO3 −, Na+, Mg2+, and Si), as well as anthropic activities (SO4 2−, NO3 −, Cl−, Ca2+, and K+).

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to express their gratitude to the Universidad Autonoma del Estado de México (Project 2600/2008U) for providing financial support. Particular thanks are given to Comision Nacional del Agua (CONAGUA) for their helpful technical support. The work by M.A. Martín del Campo conducted for this research was carried out with the financial support of Consejo Nacional de Investigación y Ciencia (CONACyT), for the period of the research visit to the Universidade de São Paulo.

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  1. Centro Interamericano de Recursos del Agua (CIRA), Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Cerro Coatepec S/N C.U., 50130, Toluca, Mexico State, Mexico

    M. A. Martín del Campo, M. V. Esteller & J. L. Expósito

  2. Centro de Pesquisas de Águas Subterrâneas (CEPAS), Universidade de Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    R. Hirata

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  1. M. A. Martín del Campo
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Correspondence to M. V. Esteller.

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Martín del Campo, M.A., Esteller, M.V., Expósito, J.L. et al. Impacts of urbanization on groundwater hydrodynamics and hydrochemistry of the Toluca Valley aquifer (Mexico). Environ Monit Assess 186, 2979–2999 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-013-3595-3

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