RT Journal Article
T1 Sustainability of groundwater resources of weathered and fractured schists in the rural areas of Galicia (Spain)
A1 Samper, Javier
A1 Naves, Acacia
A1 Pisani, Bruno
A1 Dafonte Dafonte, Jorge
A1 Montenegro, Luis
A1 García-Tomillo, Aitor
K1 Sustainability
K1 Rural water supply
K1 Groundwater resources
K1 Schists
K1 Climate change
K1 Galicia
K1 Groundwater pollution
AB Water supply deficits in droughts, groundwater pollution and climate change are the main challenges for the sustainability of groundwater resources from hard-rock aquifers in rural areas of Galicia (Spain). Here, we address the sustainability of groundwater resources of weathered and fractured schists in the rural areas of the Abegondo municipality. The conceptualization of the hydrogeology of the study area includes: (1) The weathered schist (regolith), (2) The decompressed highly fractured schist layer; and (3) An underlying slightly fractured schist. Groundwater flows mostly through the regolith and the highly fractured rock. Rainfall infiltration is the source of aquifer recharge. Groundwater discharges in seepage areas, springs and along creeks and valleys. The water table is generally shallow and shows seasonal oscillations of up to 4 m. The equivalent transmissivity of the regolith and the highly fractured schist ranges from 15 to 35 m2/days. The electrical resistivity tomography identifies a shallow water table and attests that the contact of the highly fractured schist and the slightly fractured schist is highly heterogeneous. Groundwater resources were quantified with a hydrological water balance model. The mean annual recharge is about 185 mm. Groundwater recharge at the end of the twenty-first century could decrease from 6 to 10% due to climate change. The decline in groundwater table could aggravate the shortages during droughts. Groundwater quality data show bacteriological and nitrate contamination due to the poor management of the manure in the fields and occasional discharges of slurry from pig and mink farms. Groundwater management and protection actions are proposed to prevent groundwater pollution and achieve a sustainable groundwater supply in the study area.
PB Springer Nature
YR 2022
FD 2022-02-18
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10347/38283
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10347/38283
LA eng
NO Samper, J., Naves, A., Pisani, B. et al. Sustainability of groundwater resources of weathered and fractured schists in the rural areas of Galicia (Spain). Environ Earth Sci 81, 141 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-022-10264-5
NO This work has been performed within the framework of the project "Sustainable solutions for small networks of supply" of the LIFE program of the European Commission, its partners being: The Galician Water Authority (“Augas de Galicia”), the Regional Health Department and the Municipality of Abegondo. We acknowledge the support provided by Carlos Ameijenda, Raquel Piñeiro, Mónica Velo, Roberto Arias, Elvira Íñiguez and SAI-UDC Services. The work has been funded also by a project of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (PID2019-109544RB-I00), and the Galician Regional Government (Grant number ED431C2021/54 from “Consolidación e estruturación de unidades de investigación competitivas”, Grupos de referencia competitiva).
DS Minerva
RD 3 may 2026