State of knowledge and management of Iberoamerican coastal aquifers with different geo-hydrological settings

Abstract

Coastal aquifers have played a major role in modern human occupation and economic development in Iberoamerica. Most of Iberoamerica population inhabits coastal areas, and water needs are frequently fulfilled with groundwater. Possible climate changes and consequent sea level rise will deeply affect coastal aquifers, putting considerable pressure in those water bodies. For the prediction of how these aquifers will behave in face of such challenges, and also to establish preventive measures against undesired effects, adequate knowledge is essential. This paper presents the state of knowledge of a number of Latin American coastal aquifers reasonably representative of the overall situation through a literature review, with compilation and synthesis of data. A synthetic comparative analysis conducted on 33 coastal aquifers in Latin America and the Iberian Peninsula is showed, as well as detailed information about three out of those aquifers with relatively more abundant data and of particular interest: Mar del Plata, in Argentina; Recife, in Brazil; and Low Llobregat, in Spain. Some of the conclusions of the comparative analysis are: very frequently, intensive groundwater abstraction has produced marine intrusion; management actions with different technical complexity have been undertaken in some areas, although the most common situation is a lack of management at all. However, legal and regulatory frameworks to protect groundwater are slowly improving or uprising. Major challenges are unawareness on aquifer problems and underfunding for management and investigation.