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Hydrogeology and sustainable future groundwater abstraction from the Agua Verde aquifer in the Atacama Desert, northern Chile

Hydrogéologie et future exploitation durable d’eau souterraine au sein de l’aquifère d’Agua Verde dans le désert d’Atacama, Nord du Chili

Hidrogeología y futura explotación sostenible de agua subterránea del acuífero Agua Verde en el Desierto de Atacama, norte de Chile

智利北部Atacama沙漠Agua Verde含水层水文地质状况及未来可持续的开采量

Hidrogeologia e abstrações futuras de águas subterrâneas a partir do aquífero Agua Verde no Deserto do Atacama, norte do Chile

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Abstract

The hyper-arid conditions prevailing in Agua Verde aquifer in northern Chile make this system the most important water source for nearby towns and mining industries. Due to the growing demand for water in this region, recharge is investigated along with the impact of intense pumping activity in this aquifer. A conceptual model of the hydrogeological system is developed and implemented into a two-dimensional groundwater-flow numerical model. To assess the impact of climate change and groundwater extraction, several scenarios are simulated considering variations in both aquifer recharge and withdrawals. The estimated average groundwater lateral recharge from Precordillera (pre-mountain range) is about 4,482 m3/day. The scenarios that consider an increase of water withdrawal show a non-sustainable groundwater consumption leading to an over-exploitation of the resource, because the outflows surpasses inflows, causing storage depletion. The greater the depletion, the larger the impact of recharge reduction caused by the considered future climate change. This result indicates that the combined effects of such factors may have a severe impact on groundwater availability as found in other groundwater-dependent regions located in arid environments. Furthermore, the scenarios that consider a reduction of the extraction flow rate show that it may be possible to partially alleviate the damage already caused to the aquifer by the continuous extractions since 1974, and it can partially counteract climate change impacts on future groundwater availability caused by a decrease in precipitation (and so in recharge), if the desalination plant in Taltal increases its capacity.

Résumé

Compte-tenu des conditions hyperarides qui prévalent dans la région de l’aquifère d’Aqua Verde, Nord du Chili, ce système constitue la plus importante source d’eau pour les villes et industries minières voisines. Du fait de la demande croissante en eau dans cette région, la recharge est. étudiée ainsi que l’impact de l’intense activité de pompage dans cet aquifère. Un modèle conceptuel du système hydrogéologique est. élaboré et mis en œuvre au sein d’un modèle numérique hydrodynamique 2-D. Pour évaluer l’impact du changement climatique et du pompage d’eau souterraine, plusieurs scénarios sont simulés en considérant des variations à la fois de la recharge de l’aquifère et des prélèvements. La recharge moyenne estimée de l’aquifère provenant latéralement de la Précordillère (la chaîne de « pré » montagnes) est. d’environ 4,482 m3/j. Les scenarios qui considèrent une augmentation des pompages d’eau montrent une consommation d’eau souterraine non durable qui conduit à une surexploitation de la ressource, car les sorties excèdent les entrées, entraînant une diminution du stock. Plus la diminution est. importante, plus grand est. l’impact de la réduction de la recharge causée par le changement climatique futur considéré. Ces résultats indiquent que les effets combinés de tels facteurs pourraient avoir un impact sévère sur la disponibilité en eau souterraine, comme cela a déjà été trouvé dans d’autres régions dépendant des eaux souterraines situées dans des environnements arides. En outre, les scénarios qui considèrent une réduction du débit de pompage montrent qu’il pourrait être possible de partiellement réduire les dommages déjà causés à l’aquifère par les prélèvements continus depuis 1974; l’augmentation de la capacité de l’usine de désalinisation de Taltal peut ainsi partiellement compenser les impacts du changement climatique sur la disponibilité future en eau souterraine causé par la baisse des précipitations (et donc de la recharge).

Resumen

Las condiciones hiperáridas que prevalecen en el acuífero de Agua Verde en el norte de Chile hacen que este sistema sea la fuente de agua más importante para los pueblos cercanos y las industrias mineras. Debido a la creciente demanda de agua en esta región, se investiga la recarga conjuntamente con el impacto de la intensa actividad de bombeo en este acuífero. Un modelo conceptual del sistema hidrogeológico se desarrolla e implementa en un modelo numérico bidimensional de flujo de agua subterránea. Para evaluar el impacto del cambio climático y la extracción de agua subterránea, se simulan varios escenarios considerando las variaciones en la recarga y en las extracciones del acuífero. La recarga promedio estimada del agua subterránea de Precordillera (cadena pre-montañoso) es de aproximadamente 4,482 m3/día. Los escenarios que consideran un aumento de la extracción de agua muestran un consumo de agua subterránea no sostenible que lleva a una sobreexplotación del recurso, porque las salidas superan los flujos de entrada, lo que provoca el agotamiento del almacenamiento. Cuanto mayor sea el agotamiento, mayor será el impacto de la reducción de la recarga causada por el futuro cambio climático. Este resultado indica que los efectos combinados de tales factores pueden tener un impacto severo en la disponibilidad de agua subterránea como se encuentra en otras regiones dependientes del agua subterránea localizadas en ambientes áridos. Además, los escenarios que consideran una reducción de la tasa de flujo de extracción muestran que es posible aliviar parcialmente el daño ya causado al acuífero por las extracciones continuas desde 1974, y pueden contrarrestar parcialmente los impactos del cambio climático sobre la disponibilidad futura de agua subterránea causada por una disminución en la precipitación (y por lo tanto en la recarga), si la planta de desalinización en Taltal aumenta su capacidad.

摘要

盛行于智利北部Agua Verde含水层超干旱条件使该含水层系统成为周围乡镇和采矿业最重要的水源。由于本地区日益增长的需求,调查了这个含水层的补给情况及强烈抽水造成的影响。建立了水文地质系统的概念模型并应用到二维地下水流数值模型中。为了评价气候变化和地下水开采的影响,考虑到含水层补给和抽水的各种变化,对几种不同的方案进行了模拟。模拟的从Precordillera(之前的山脉)得到的平均地下水侧向补给大约为4,482 m3/天。考虑了地下水抽水量增加的方案显示出地下水消耗不可持续,将导致资源的过量开采,因为外流超过了入流,引起储量的枯竭。消耗的越多,未来气候变化导致的补给减少的影响就越大。这个结果表明,这些因素的综合效应可能对地下水的可用性有严重的影响,正如在其它位于干旱环境下依赖于地下水的地区发现的那样。此外,考虑了抽取流量减少的方案显示,该方案有可能部分减轻1974年以来连续抽水对含水层已经造成的损害,并且如果Taltal海水淡化厂增加产能,方案还可部分抵消降水减少引起的气候变化对未来地下水可用性的影响。

Resumo

As condições hiperáridas que prevalecem no aquífero Agua Verde no norte do Chile tornam este sistema a fonte de água mais importante para cidades próximas e indústrias de mineração. Devido à crescente demanda por água nesta região, a recarga é investigada juntamente com o impacto da intensa atividade de bombeamento neste aquífero. Um modelo conceitual do sistema hidrogeológico é desenvolvido e implementado em um modelo numérico bidimensional de fluxo de água subterrânea. Para avaliar o impacto da mudança climática e extração de águas subterrâneas, vários cenários são simulados considerando as variações na recarga e retiradas do aquífero. A taxa estimada de recarga lateral de águas subterrâneas de Precordillera (cadeia pré-montanha) é de cerca de 4,482 m3/dia. Os cenários que consideram um aumento da retirada de água mostram um consumo não sustentável de águas subterrâneas que leva a uma sobre-exploração do recurso, porque as saídas superam os influxos, causando o esgotamento do armazenamento. Quanto maior o esgotamento, maior o impacto da redução de recarga causada pela mudança climática futura considerada. Este resultado indica que os efeitos combinados de tais fatores podem ter um impacto severo na disponibilidade de águas subterrâneas como encontrado em outras regiões dependentes das águas subterrâneas localizadas em ambientes áridos. Além disso, os cenários que consideram uma redução do caudal de extração mostram que pode ser possível aliviar parcialmente os danos já causados ao aquífero pelas extrações contínuas desde 1974 e pode contrariar parcialmente os impactos das mudanças climáticas na disponibilidade futura de água subterrânea causada por uma diminuição da precipitação (e, portanto, na recarga), se a usina de dessalinização em Taltal aumentar sua capacidade.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the associate editor and reviewers (Alan M. MacDonald, Andrew Hughes and one anonymous reviewer) for their valuable comments, which improved the quality of the manuscript.

Funding

This research was funded by the Anillo project ACT 1203 of the CONICYT of Chile government and CONICYT-PCHA/Doctorado Nacional/2015-21150951 PhD grant to J.U., and CONICYT-PCHA/Doctorado Nacional/2016-21161345 PhD grant to H.U.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile

    Javier Urrutia, Christian Herrera, Guillermo Chong, Harry Urqueta & José A. Luque

  2. Hydrogeology Group (GHS), Department of Geotechnical Engineering and Geosciences, Technical University of Catalonia (UPC) & Hydromodel Host SL, Barcelona, Spain

    Jorge Jódar

  3. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Catalonia (UPC), Barcelona, Spain

    Agustín Medina

  4. Centro de Investigación Tecnológica del Agua y del Desierto, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile

    José A. Luque

Authors
  1. Javier Urrutia
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  2. Jorge Jódar
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  3. Agustín Medina
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  4. Christian Herrera
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  5. Guillermo Chong
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  6. Harry Urqueta
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  7. José A. Luque
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Correspondence to Javier Urrutia.

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Urrutia, J., Jódar, J., Medina, A. et al. Hydrogeology and sustainable future groundwater abstraction from the Agua Verde aquifer in the Atacama Desert, northern Chile. Hydrogeol J 26, 1989–2007 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-018-1740-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-018-1740-3

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