Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Hydrochemistry of the aquifers in the Rio las Avenidas basin, Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico

  • Published:
Water, Air, and Soil Pollution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Groundwater in the Rio de las Avenidas sub-basin corresponds to the bicarbonate-sodium and bicarbonate-calcium hydrochemical facies, which result from the mineralization of water passing through alkaline rocks (andesites) which prevail in this basin. However, the presence of high concentrations of Na+ and K+ reveals the existence of an external inflow of these elements: the registered mean values are respectively 94.3 and 19.0 ppm, with the Tèllez and Tizayuca areas standing out with reported values of up to 142 ppm. As for the concentration of soluble water cations, we find in decreasing order: Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, along with the anions HCO3 −, Cl−, SO4 2−, CO3 −, which combine to form the NaHCO3, NaCl, Ca(HCO3)2, MgSO4 and KCl salts. The presence of biological contaminants, P and detergents in the groundwater indicates that it may have been contaminated by waste water. In addition to the contaminants mentioned above, large quantities of Pb, B, Zn, Fe, Mn, Cr, Co were detected and although Fe, Pb, Zn, B, and Mn are closely related to the local lithology, the high concentrations of these elements along with the occurrence of Co, Cr, Cd, and Ni confirm the gradual degradation of the aquifers in the sub-basin. The water temperature indicates the existence of low temperature thermal processes in the area.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • A.P.H.A.—WWA—WPCF: 1989, Standard Methods for the Examination Water and Wastewater, 17th Ed., APHA, Washington D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Appelo, C. A. J. and Postma, D.: 1993,Geochemistry Groundwater and Pollution, A. A. Balkema, Rotterdam, Brookfield.

    Google Scholar 

  • Canovas, C. J.: 1990,Calidad Agronómica de las Aguas de Riego, Ed. Mundi-Prensa, Castello.

    Google Scholar 

  • Castany, G.: 1971,Tratado Práctico de las Aguas Subterráneas, Ed. Omega, Barcelona.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cserna de, Z.et al.: 1987, Univ. Nal. Autón, México, Inst. Geología, Bol, 104.

  • Custodio, E. and Llamas, R. M.: 1983,Hidrología Subterránea, T.1. 2da. Ed. Omega, Barcelona.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feth, J. H.: 1981,U.S. Geol. Surv. Water Supply Papear, 2176.

  • Flores Rodriguez, A.: 1993,Diag. y Eval. de los grados de contaminación de los suelos del transecto Téllez-Pachuca por metales pesados presentes en las aguas residuales del Río de las Avenidas, Pachuca, Tesis Prof. UNAM, Fac. Zaragoza, p. 92

    Google Scholar 

  • Freeze, R. A. and Cherry, J. A.: 1979,Groundwater, Prentice-Hall inc., Englewood, NJ.

    Google Scholar 

  • Geyne, A. R., Fries, C. Jr., Segerstrom, Kenneth, R. F., y Wilson, I. F.: 1963,Geología y yacimientos minerales del distrito de Pachuca-Real del Monte, estado de Hidalgo. Consejo de Recursos Naturales no Renovables (México), Publ. 5E, p. 222

  • Hem, D. J.: 1985,U.S. Geol. Surv. Water Supply Paper, 2254.

  • Huizar, A. R.: 1993,Univ. Nal. Autón. Méx. Inst. Geografía. Rev. No. 26, 95–131.

  • Martínez Reyes, J. and Nieto Samaniego, A.: 1990,Univ. Nal. Autón. Méx. Inst Geol. Rev. 9(1), 33–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Piper, A. M.: 1944,Trans. Amer. Geophys. Union 25, 194–923.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prol Ledezma, R. M. and Juarez, M. G.: 1986,J. Vocanol. Geotherm. Res, Elsevier-Sc. Pub. B.V. Amsterdam 28, 251–362.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richards, L.: 1969,Daignosis and improvement of saline and alkaline soils, U.S. Depto. of Agric. Handbook, 60, Washington D.C.

  • Rump, H. H. and Krist, H.: 1988,Laboratory manual for the examination of water, waste water and soil. VCH. Verlagsgesellschaft.

  • Secretaria Agricultura y Recursos Hidráulicos (SARH), Comisión de Aguas del Valle de México.Boletín de Macánica de Suelos, Nos. 7–10.

  • Secretaria de Salud (SA),NORMA Oficial Mexicana NOM-127, SSA, Salud ambiental, agua para uso y consumo humano-Límites Permisibles y tratamientos a que dehe someterse el agua para su potablidad. Diario oficial, Enero 1996, 1er sec. 40–50. México D.F.

  • Schoeller, H.: 1962,Les Eaux Souterraines, Ed. Masson, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Suter, M., Carrillo Martinez, M., López, M. M. and Farrar, E.: 1995,Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull. 107(6), 627–641.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Urbina, F. y Camacho, H.: 1913,Inst. Geológico de México 32.

  • U.S.-EPA: 1974,Methods for Chemical Analysis of Water and Wastewater. EPA. 16-74000. U.S. Environ. Prot. A. Wash. D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wold Health Organization WHO: 1984,Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality. Recommendation 1, WHO, Geneve.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Geología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico

    Rafael Huizar-Alvarez

Authors
  1. Rafael Huizar-Alvarez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Huizar-Alvarez, R. Hydrochemistry of the aquifers in the Rio las Avenidas basin, Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico. Water Air Soil Pollut 96, 185–201 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02407204

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02407204

Key words

Search

Navigation