Origin of metropolitan aquifer salinization in Recife

Abstract

Environmental problems associated with large urban centers are a global issue. In Brazilian northeastern is located the Metropolitan Region of Recife (RMR, in Portuguese), the fourth biggest in the country, comprising 15 cities, totaling 3.7 million habitants in an area of 2.766 km² and therefore 1.334 habitants/km². This region has a water supply based on capitation of surface and groundwater, the main source of groundwater is the aquifer system of Recife plans (SAPRe, in portuguese) composed by the Beberibe and Cabo Aquifers (confined) and the Boa Viagem Aquifer (unconfined aquifer that overlap Beberibe and Cabo Aquifers). Since 1970 the salt content in this system are growing, furthermore studies shows that groundwater exploitation are almost reaching the natural limit of recharge. Among the possible sources of salinization are: i) the upcoming water from shallow portions of aquifer by abandoned wells. ii) saline intrusion of seawater. iii) paleo-mangroves. iv) sewage channels that cross the entire city. This project aims to detect the contamination sources and distinguish the salinization mechanisms by a hydrogeochemical model for the region. Noteworthy, this project is part of Task 3 in the FAPESP project COQUEIRAL (FAPESP 2011/50553-0). (AU)