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Groundwater geoindicators for the assessment of environmental changes- planning and policy implications, Rio Cuarto City, Argentina

Abstract:

Geoindicators have been developed as tools for integrated assessments of natural environments and ecosystems, and tracking and reporting on the state of the environment. This paper examines groundwater geoindicators in Rio Cuarto city, Argentina, specifically piezometric levels and water quality indicator parameters. Since 1988, there has been a progressive rise of the water table caused by cesspool effluents and an increasing trend of rainfall excess in the water balance. In certain neighborhoods this has caused serious damage. Water quality indicators include nitrogen species, total dissolved solids (TDS) and chloride (Cl), which are good indicators of contamination due to sanitary systems. Nitrate (NO sub(3)) and dissolved iron were used to assess the redox state of groundwater. The neighborhoods under study present different contamination scenerios. Where oxidizing conditions prevail, NO sub(3) was …