Hydrogeologic monitoring of the Paraíba do Sul river floodplain area subject to sand mining in the Tremembé municipality, SP, Brazil

  • Hélio Nobile Diniz Instituto Geológico, Secretaria do Meio Ambiente do Estado de São Paulo (IG/SMA)
  • Márcia Helena Galina Instituto Geológico, Secretaria do Meio Ambiente do Estado de São Paulo (IG/SMA)
  • Marcelo dos Santos Targa Universidade de Taubaté
  • Getulio Teixeira Batista Universidade de Taubaté
  • Mariuza Figueiredo Lindenberg Universidade de Taubaté
Keywords: Quaternary sedimentary aquifer, floodplain, monitoring, piezometers

Abstract

To characterize the geological, hydrogeological, hydrochemical, and hydrobacterial aspects of the surface and groundwater in the floodplain of the Paraíba do Sul river in Tremembé municipality, the water levels of the Quaternary sedimentary aquifer experimental site was monitored based on four wells and eight associated piezometers with daily measures of water levels in continuous operation since December 3, 2009. In addition, data from a modular weather station in operation since March 2010 and data from the quality of surface water and groundwater have been analyzed in the period between March 2010 and March 2011. The water balance between April 2010 and March 2011 was estimated to verify the periods of water deficiency and excess. Data loggers installed in the piezometers enabled daily groundwater levels monitoring to establish the influence of the Paraíba do Sul river in the water levels of the Quaternary sedimentary aquifer and also they allowed the determination of the water loss to the atmosphere. A hydrogeological model with simplified equations, based on hydraulics parameters obtained in the wells pump tests, was implemented to calculate the amount of daily evapotranspiration and the average distance of the water loss from the wells to the atmosphere. An evaporation rate of 83.4 m3/h from the open-pit sand mine located at 212.2 m and of 89.2 m3/h for the one at 885.0 m average distance from the monitoring wells were observed. Chemical and bacteriological analysis involving multiple parameters were performed in the period from March 2010 to March 2011 in groundwater collected in wells, in the open-pit mines and in the waters of the Paraíba do Sul river. The results allowed to observe the influences of the Paraíba do Sul river as well as the contamination from fertilizers and pesticides from the agriculture practiced in the floodplain area on the quality of the groundwater.

Author Biographies

Hélio Nobile Diniz, Instituto Geológico, Secretaria do Meio Ambiente do Estado de São Paulo (IG/SMA)
Possui graduação em Geologia pela Universidade de São Paulo (1975), mestrado em Hidrogeologia pelo Instituto de Geociências da USP (1990) e doutorado (em Hidrogeologia) pelo Instituto de Geociências da USP (1996). Atualmente é pesquisador cientifico VI do Instituto Geológico do Estado de São Paulo e professor da disciplina Hidrogeologia Ambiental do Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Ambientais da Universidade de Taubaté. Tem orientado alunos do Programa de Pós-graduação da UNITAU, de diversas formações, nas áreas de interfácies com as Geociências, com ênfase em Hidrogeologia. Atua em projetos de pesquisa nos seguintes temas: hidrogeologia, aguas subterraneas, recarga de aqüíferos, ensaios de bombeamento e análise da qualidade das águas.
Márcia Helena Galina, Instituto Geológico, Secretaria do Meio Ambiente do Estado de São Paulo (IG/SMA)
Scientific Researcher of the São Paulo Environmental Secretariat Geologic Institute.
Marcelo dos Santos Targa, Universidade de Taubaté
Coordinator of the Taubaté University Environmental Posgraduate Program
Getulio Teixeira Batista, Universidade de Taubaté
Ph.D of the Taubaté University Environmental Posgraduate Program
Mariuza Figueiredo Lindenberg, Universidade de Taubaté
Ms of the Taubaté University Environmental Posgraduate Program
Published
20/12/2011
Section
Papers