Principales características hidrogeoquímicas del acuífero de Balerma-Las Marinas (Almería)

Abstract

The Balerma-Las Marinas aquifer, which features mainly Pliocene calcarenite rocks, is one of the three distinct hydrogeological units that have been identified in the Campo de Dalías area of Almería. Its hydrogeochemistry has been established by analyzing one hundred and eight samples from different points along the aquifer. The high sodium chloride content of the water is put down to fairly recent relative changes in the sea and continent levels, which have left saline water trapped by a series of blocks that divide the aquifer into various separate compartments. This relative lack of hydraulic continuity between the aquifer and the sea, together with fact that its resources are not subject to overuse, make it very unlikely that marine intrusion is the cause of the high saline content of the water. The conclusion to be drawn is that these waters are not very suitable either for human consumption or for irrigation.