Uso de la hidrología isotópica en la evaluación de una importante Cuenca cárstica Cubana, para la gestión sostenible de sus recursos hídricos

PERALTA VITAL, JOSÉ LUIS; GIL CASTILLO, REINALDO; MOLEIRO LEON, LESLIE; LEYVA BOMBOUSE, DENNYS; DAPEÑA, CRISTINA; PANARELLO, HECTOR; CARRAZANA GONZALEZ; PIN, MANUEL

ASUNCIÓN, PARAGUAY

Congreso; VIII Congreso Latinoamericano de Hidrología Subterránea.; 2006

ASOCIACIÓN LATINOAMERICANA DE HIDROLOGÍA SUBTERRANEA PARA EL DESARROLO (ALHSUD)

This work shows the use of the isotope hydrology for the characterization of the Almendares-Vento hydrographic Basin. This Basin is one of the most important in the country due to is the main water supply for people living in Havana City. The hydrographic resources of this Basin are affected by the overexploitation and contamination risk by the antropic action. These factors were increased by an extended period of drought in the country. Taking into account these elements, the Basin characterization was carried out in order to improve the management of its hydrographic resources. According to the planned objectives, a geomathematic and statistic study was carried out for the design of water monitoring network. Macro-chemical components (HCO3-, Cl-, SO42-, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+), physico-chemical parameters (electric conductivity, pH, SST) and tritium concentration in water and rain were monitored. For tritium determination, electrolytic enrichment and further samples measurement by liquid scintillation were used. The measured parameters, allow the characterization of the aquifer dynamic, the identification of recharging zones and the residence time of groundwater. The contamination, vulnerability and sanitary protection zones of the Basin were defined. The physico-chemical results showed that groundwater in the Basin classify as calcic bicarbonate. In the west side of the Basin, the presence of contamination, probably by high antropic action in the zone, was observed. The anomalous values obtained in the “Ejército Rebelde” Dam show that this water body is an important feeding source of polluted water to the Basin. The "Radioactive disintegration model with known input” was selected for the interpretation of the tritium data. Input and output functions of this model were defined. The obtained results allowed the identification of water mixtures, recharging zones of the aquifer, contamination vulnerability areas and the susceptible zones to the resource exploitation. Some hydrogeologic uncertainties relating to the Ejército Rebelde Dam were defined. In the paper, the efficacy of the isotope hydrology, for the characterization of a Cuban carsic Basin was demonstrated.   Keywords: Isotope Hydrology; Tritium;  CarsicBasin; Almendares-Vento; Cuba.