Mapping and estimation of potential recharge zones in La Sopetrana watershed and their contribution to the Santa Fé de Antioquia aquifer SAM 6.4 (Sopetrán, Antioquia).

Abstract

The management of the groundwater resource requires advanced techniques to know its spatial distribution and behavior. With the help of geographic information systems (GIS) Potential Recharge and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) models were applied in the La Sopetrana watershed, located in the municipality of Sopetrán (Antioquia, Colombia). The objective of this study is to estimate and delimit the potential recharge zones by means of precipitation for three hydrological scenarios (normal conditions 2003-2004, dry 2009-2010 and humid 2010-2011). This can be done using hydroclimatic spatial variables, such as the geological and textural type of the ground, which produce maps of potential recharge by precipitation and maps of potential recharge zones as a result. The resulting maps revealed that the recharge under humid conditions is 956 mm / year; under normal conditions the maximum recharge value is 635 mm / year; and the recharge is 422 mm / year with dry conditions. Additionally, a map of potential recharge zones was obtained, which has three zones categorized into different levels of importance: high, medium and low. It was possible to reveal that the Fault pattern of the Romeral Faults system capture part of the aquifer recharge. This flow possibly contributes to the system of the Rio Chico basin, which ultimately recharges the Aburrá Valley aquifer, SAM6.3, and not the Santa Fé de Antioquia aquifer, SAM6.4.