ASSESSMENT OF INTRINSIC VULNERABILITY TO GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION IN THE CUYAGUATEJE AND COSTERA SUR BASINS OF PINAR DEL RÍO, CUBA

Avaliação da vulnerabilidade intrínseca à contaminação das águas subterrâneas nas bacias Cuyaguateje e Costera, Sul de Pinar del Río, Cuba

Abstract

Cuyaguateje and Costera Sur of Pinar del Río hydrogeological basins are important sources of groundwater supply to Pinar del Río province in Cuba. For this reason, it is necessary to develop investigations that allow early warning of possible contamination. The objective of this article was to evaluate the susceptibility to contamination of both underground basins due to the impact of potential pollutants discharged on their surface. The RISK weighted index overlay method was used for the first time in this region. The intrinsic vulnerability map obtained at a scale 1: 100 000 revealed that the areas of moderate vulnerability reach 55.1%, and the areas of high and very high vulnerability represent 44.6%, results that correspond with the geological nature of the basins, with the environmental diagnosis of the province and with reports of other studies carried out in the region. The RISK method demonstrated its high resolution power and the feasibility of its application in other basins of the national territory.

Keywords: Intrinsic vulnerability. RISK method. Underground water.