They value the study of groundwater in arid areas

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Dr. Ricardo Oyarzún, researcher at the University of La Serena, associated with the CEAZA Scientific Center and the CRHIAM Fondap Center, has developed studies on groundwater recharge in arid areas. He comments that knowledge of aquifers is important in terms of water resource reserves in semi-arid basins, such as those of the Coquimbo Region, where thousands of inhabitants depend on water and an ecosystem that also survives on that resource.

“It is the same as the bank account, if I have no idea how much is deposited month after month, and I withdraw money, there is the risk of leaving the account at “0.” In the case of groundwater, recharge is the entry, the deposit, in this case of water,” explains the researcher.

ceaza2He adds that in our country groundwater for human consumption reaches 40% of the total volume consumed. Meanwhile, for rural drinking water it would increase to 76%.

For this work, the scientist uses the isotopic or atom analysis technique, which allows obtaining information on the water resource from different perspectives.

“Isotopes are atoms of the same element, which have different numbers of protons and, therefore, the mass varies, which means that their 'signal' changes in the hydrological cycle. As a tool they help identify the origin of the water. For example, if the recharge is local or the water comes from somewhere else. It also allows us to characterize the age of the water,” he details.

He warns that, like any tool, isotopes have advantages and limitations, and the results are better if they are integrated with other monitoring techniques (e.g. hydrogeochemistry).

Presentation at CONAPHI-Chile

Dr. Oyarzún presented the presentation “Isotopes: potentialities and limitations in the context of the study and characterization of groundwater recharge” in a workshop on the topic of “Aquifer Recharge”, organized by the Hydrological Engineering Program for Water Management. Irrigation and Drainage of CONAPHI-Chile (Chilean Chapter of the UNESCO National Hydrological Program) coordinated by the CNR (National Irrigation Commission).

Work with isotopes has been an important component in various projects carried out by the academic. Among the most recent is the characterization of aquifer recharge in dryland mid-mountain areas (FONDECYT 1150587). Another of his works disseminated isotopic techniques, as support for the management of water resources, financed by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Source: CEAZA