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Intrinsic and specific vulnerability of groundwater in central Spain: the risk of nitrate pollution

Vulnérabilité spécifique et intrinsèque d’une nappe au centre de l’Espagne: le risque de la pollution par les nitrates

Vulnerabilidad específica e intrínseca del agua subterránea en España Central: el riesgo de la contaminación por nitratos

西班牙中部地下水内在和特殊脆弱性 : 硝酸盐污染的风险

Vulnerabilidade intrínseca e específica das águas subterrâneas no centro de Espanha: o risco de poluição por nitratos

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Abstract

The intrinsic vulnerability of groundwater in the Comunidad de Madrid (central Spain) was evaluated using the DRASTIC and GOD indexes. Groundwater vulnerability to nitrate pollution was also assessed using the composite DRASTIC (CD) and nitrate vulnerability (NV) indexes. The utility of these methods was tested by analyzing the spatial distribution of nitrate concentrations in the different aquifers located in the study area: the Tertiary Detrital Aquifer, the Moor Limestone Aquifer, the Cretaceous Limestone Aquifer and the Quaternary Aquifer. Vulnerability maps based on these four indexes showed very similar results, identifying the Quaternary Aquifer and the lower sub-unit of the Moor Limestone Aquifer as deposits subjected to a high risk of nitrate pollution due to intensive agriculture. As far as the spatial distribution of groundwater nitrate concentrations is concerned, the NV index showed the greatest statistical significance (p < 0.01). This new type of multiplicative model offers greater accuracy in estimations of specific vulnerability with respect to the real impact of each type of land use. The results of this study provide a basis on which to guide the designation of nitrate vulnerable zones in the Comunidad de Madrid, in line with European Union Directive 91/676/EEC.

Résumé

La vulnérabilité intrinsèque de l’aquifère de la Communauté autonome de Madrid (Comunidad, Espagne centrale) a été évaluée en utilisant les indices DRASTIC et GOD. La vulnérabilité de la nappe à la pollution par les nitrates a été également évaluée en utilisant les indices DRASTIC composite (CD) et nitrate vulnerability (NV). L’utilité des ces méthodes a été testée en analysant la distribution spatiale des concentrations en nitrates dans les différents aquifères localisés dans la zone d’étude: l’aquifère du détritique tertiaire, l’aquifère du calcaire de Moor, l’aquifère du calcaire crétacé et l’aquifère quaternaire. Les cartes de vulnérabilité basées sur ces quatre indices montrent des résultats très similaires, désignant l’aquifère quaternaire et la sous-unité inférieure de l’aquifère du calcaire de Moor comme formations sujettes à un risque élevé de pollution nitratée due à une agriculture intensive. En ce qui concerne la distribution des nitrates dans la nappe, l’indice NV montre la meilleure fiabilité statistique (p < 0.01). Ce nouveau type de modèle multiplicatif présente une plus grande précision dans l’estimation de la vulnérabilité spécifique en rapport avec l’impact réel de chaque type d’utilisation du sol. Les résultats de cette étude fournissent une base de délimitation des Zones Vulnérables aux Nitrates dans la Communauté autonome de Madrid, selon la Directive européenne 91/676/EEC.

Resumen

Se evaluó la vulnerabilidad intrínseca de las aguas subterráneas en la Comunidad de Madrid (España central) usando los índices DRASTIC y GOD. La vulnerabilidad de las aguas subterráneas a la contaminación por nitratos fue también evaluada usando el DRASTIC compuesto (CD) y el índice de vulnerabilidad de nitratos (NV). Se testeó la utilidad de estos métodos mediante el análisis de la distribución espacial de las concentraciones de nitrato en diferentes acuíferos situados en el área de estudio: el acuífero detrítico del Terciario, el acuífero de las calizas del Páramo el acuífero de la calizas del Cretácico y el acuífero Cuaternario. Los mapas de vulnerabilidad basados en estos cuatro índices mostraron valores muy similares, identificándose al acuífero cuaternario y a la subunidad inferior de las calizas del Páramo como los depósitos sometidos a un alto riesgo a la contaminación de nitratos debido a la agricultura intensiva. En cuanto a la distribución espacial de las concentraciones de nitrato en las aguas subterráneas, el índice NV mostró la mayor significación estadística (p < 0.01). Este nuevo tipo de modelo multiplicativo ofrece una mayor precisión en estimaciones de la vulnerabilidad específica con respecto al impacto real de cada tipo de uso de la tierra. Los resultados de este estudio ofrecen una base sobre la que se guía la designación de Zonas Vulnerables de Nitratos en la Comunidad de Madrid, en línea con la Directiva 91/676/EEC de la Unión Europea.

摘要

用DRASTIC和GOD指标对马德里地区 (西班牙中部) 地下水进行了内在脆弱性评价,并用综合DRASTIC (CD) 和硝酸盐脆弱性(NV)指标评价了地下水对硝酸盐污染的脆弱性。通过分析研究区内不同含水层硝酸盐组分的空间分布检验了这些方法的有效性:第三纪碎屑含水层、摩尔 (Moor) 石灰岩含水层、白垩纪石灰岩含水层和第四纪含水层。基于这四个指标绘制的脆弱性地图显示出非常相似的结果,确定第四纪含水层和摩尔石灰岩含水层的较低部分的沉积层面临着由集约化农业带来的高硝酸盐污染风险。至于地下水硝酸盐含量的空间分布而言,NV指标的统计显著性最强 (p < 0.01)。在评价涉及各种土地利用方式实际影响的特殊脆弱性时,这种新型的乘法模型提供了更高的精确度。本研究为根据欧盟官方91/676/EEC标准在马德里地区划定硝酸盐脆弱性区域提供了依据。

Resumo

A vulnerabilidade intrínseca das águas subterrâneas na Comunidade de Madrid (centro de Espanha) foi avaliada utilizando os índices DRASTIC e GOD. A vulnerabilidade das águas subterrâneas à poluição por nitratos também foi avaliada utilizando os índices composite DRASTIC (CD) e nitrate vulnerability (NV). Aferiu-se a utilidade destes métodos através da análise da distribuição espacial das concentrações de nitratos nos diferentes aquíferos localizados na área de estudo: o Aquífero Detrítico Terciário, o Aquífero Calcário Mouro, o Aquífero Calcário Cretácico e o Aquífero Quaternário. Os mapas de vulnerabilidade baseados nos quatro índices apresentaram resultados muito semelhantes, e identificaram o Aquífero Quaternário e a sub-unidade inferior do Aquífero Calcário Mouro como depósitos sujeitos a um elevado risco de poluição por nitratos, devido à agricultura intensiva. No que diz respeito à distribuição espacial das concentrações de nitratos nas águas subterrâneas, o índice NV apresentou a maior significância estatística (p  < 0.01). Este novo tipo de modelo multiplicativo oferece maior precisão nas estimativas da vulnerabilidade específica quanto ao verdadeiro impacte de cada tipo de uso do solo. Os resultados deste estudo fornecem uma base para orientar a designação de Zonas Vulneráveis aos Nitratos na Comunidade de Madrid, em conformidade com a Directiva 91/676/CEE da União Europeia.

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded by the Comunidad de Madrid and the European Social Fund (GR/AMB/0745/2004). The Confederación Hidrográfica del Tajo and Instituto Geológico y Minero provided hydrogeological data relating to piezometric and quality sampling of the groundwater networks in the study area.

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  1. Departamento de Contaminación Ambiental, Centro de Ciencias Medioambientales, CSIC, Serrano 115, 28006, Madrid, Spain

    Juan J. Martínez-Bastida & Mercedes Arauzo

  2. Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, José Gutierrez Abascal 2, 28006, Madrid, Spain

    Maria Valladolid

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Martínez-Bastida, J.J., Arauzo, M. & Valladolid, M. Intrinsic and specific vulnerability of groundwater in central Spain: the risk of nitrate pollution. Hydrogeol J 18, 681–698 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-009-0549-5

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