Targeting arsenic-safe aquifers for drinking water supplies

J. BUNDSCHUH; M.I. LITTER; P. BHATTACHARYA

ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH

SPRINGER

Año: 2010 vol. 32 p. 307 - 315

0269-4042

At present, 70 countries worldwide are8 affected by groundwater contamination by arsenic (As)9 released from predominantly geogenic sources. Con-10 sequently, the As problem is becoming a global issue.11 The option to target As-safe aquifers, which uses12 geological, geochemical, hydrogeological, morpho-13 logical and climatic similarities to delimit As-safe14 aquifers, appears as a sustainable mitigation option.15 Two pilot areas, Meghna Flood Plain in Matlab16 Upazila, representative of Bengal Delta in Bangladesh,17 and Rı´o Dulce Alluvial Cone, representing a typical18 aquifer setting in the Chaco-Pampean Plain in Argen-19 tina groundwater As occurrence, were compared. In20 rural Bangladesh, As removal techniques have been21 provided to the population, but with low social22 acceptance. In contrast, ‘‘targeting As-safe aquifers’’23 was socially accepted in Bangladesh, where sediment24 color could be used to identify As-safe aquifer zones25 and to install safe wells. The investigation in Argentina26 is more complex because of very different conditions27 and sources of As. Targeting As-safe aquifers could be28 a sustainable option for many rural areas and isolated29 peri-urban areas.