Ground Water Availability Estimation of Cuatrocienegas Aquifer System, Mexico

Monday, April 20, 2009: 1:50 p.m.
Turquoise III (Hilton Tucson El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort )
Carlos Gutierrez-Ojeda , Hydrogeology Department, Mexican Institute of Water Technology, Jiutepec, Morelos, Mexico
Gerardo Ortiz-Flores Sr. , Hydrogeology Department, Mexican Institute of Water Technology, Jiutepec, Morelos, Mexico
With the purpose of estimate the groundwater availability of Cuatrocienegas aquifer for new groundwater rights, the Mexican Institute of Water Technology performed for the Mexican National Water Commission a hydrogeological study during the year 2007. The study included a well survey, hydrometry and piezometry, sampling and chemical analysis and pumping tests. The identified inflows to the aquifer included the vertical recharge over the area (9.66 Mm3/year), lateral groundwater from mountain ranges (120.73 Mm3/year), irrigation return flows (5.70 Mm3/year) and infiltration from channels (16.51 Mm3/year) . On the other hand, the outflows are abstraction from wells (14.74 Mm3/year), natural flow through springs (110.03 Mm3/year) and evapotranspiration (30.04 Mm3/year). Thus, the aquifer shows a negative balance of – 2.2 Mm3/year. On the other hand, the actual groundwater rights reach 1.729 Mm3/year, and Cuatrocienegas aquifer has groundwater availability (10.8 Mm3/year) for the new permits, according to the Mexican water law. The difference between the groundwater balance and availability is due to an abstraction greater than the permitted.