Abstract
The Río Artiguas basin in central Nicaragua shows a distinctive case of environmental deterioration due to anthropogenic activities. Heavy metals used in gold mining and other wastes are continuously released into the rivers, representing a threat to the water quality. This article aims to evaluate the groundwater intrinsic vulnerability in the Río Artiguas basin and to provide information for sustainable use of water resources. The DRASTIC and GOD methods were used to analyse the relative pollution potential within the basin. DRASTIC was modified to include the degree of influence that geological structures have on the vulnerability. Moderate vulnerability areas cover most of the basin along stream valleys and lowlands, increasing downstream in the basin. The resulting vulnerability maps show that the limited groundwater resources are susceptible to surface water pollution as high vulnerability areas converge along the river valleys.
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Acknowledgements
This work was conducted as part of a multidisciplinary research program funded by the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida/SAREC). Technical and logistical support was provided by the Department of Engineering Geology at Lund University (Sweden) and Centro de Investigaciones Geocientíficas at UNAN-Managua, respectively. Dr. Torleif Dahlin offered valuable guidance. Emilio Pichardo, Meyling Herrera, Walter Espinoza, Martha Sánchez and Santiago Noguera collected important field data. Family Perez-Martínez is specially acknowledged as their assistance made fieldwork less difficult under the tropical conditions at Río Sucio. The contributions from three anonymous reviewers are acknowledged.
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Mendoza, J.A., Barmen, G. Assessment of groundwater vulnerability in the Río Artiguas basin, Nicaragua. Environ Geol 50, 569–580 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-006-0233-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-006-0233-1