Application of isotope techniques to enhance the conceptual hydrogeological model and to assess groundwater sustainability in the Pampean plain in Córdoba, Argentina

Abstract

The objective of this work is to enhance the conceptual hydrogeological model in the Río Cuarto River basin by using isotope and hydrochemical techniques. The precipitation pattern, as reflected in the average values of δ ²H and δ ¹⁸O in stations located in the plains and in the mountains, showed an isotope depletion from the East to the West, attributed to continental and altitude effects. Groundwater quality is mainly the result of two controlling factors: lithology and flow distances from recharge. The aquifers show fresh calcium/sodium bicarbonate water in the upper and medium basin (coarse fluvial sediments) which evolve to sodium sulphate and chloride waters in the low basin (mainly loess and fine alluvial sediments). The confined aquifer systems in the lower basin (C and D systems) averaged more negative stable isotope values, indicating that groundwater recharged during colder climatic conditions (Pleistocene period). Groundwater dating with ¹⁴C confirmed that groundwater ages range from modern to 45,000 years BP showing that as the water flows towards deeper layers and farther from the mountainous recharge area, groundwater age increases. The confined aquifers can potentially be exploited in order to partly cover different water needs but they should be managed in a sustainable way.

Keywords: Age dating; Pampean plain; carbon-14; deuterium excess; groundwater; hydrogen-2; hydrogeochemistry; isotope hydrology; oxygen-18.