Delineating source protection zones of karst springs. The case study of Villanueva del Rosario spring (Southern Spain)

Abstract

As part of a research programme into karst systems in Europe located under different climatic and hydrogeological contexts, this paper presents the results obtained from applying the COP+K method to the Villanueva del Rosario spring (province of Málaga, southern Spain). This spring is the main source of water supply for the village of the same name, and presents the typical karst behavior pattern of carbonate aquifers in southern Spain. Evaluation of the source vulnerability to contamination and the delineation of protection boundaries were performed using the COP+K method, designed for carbonate aquifers. The zones of maximum protection are mainly the routes of preferential infiltration where, despite the distance separating them from the spring, transit times of about one day have been recorded. The results obtained are coherent with the data of a multitracer test and an analysis of the hydrodynamic and hydrochemical response at the spring, especially with regard to Total Organic Carbon. The results of this study constitute an instrument that may be used by the competent authorities in delineating protection perimeters for aquifers with similar characteristics.