Trends in urban development and groundwater contamination by nitrate in the Bauru Aquifer System, the mid-western of São Paulo State

• Grant number: 09/05840-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: September 01, 2009
• End date: August 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Geology
• Principal Investigator: Claudia Luciana Varnier
• Grantee: Claudia Luciana Varnier
• Host Institution: Instituto Geológico. Secretaria de Meio Ambiente, Infraestrutura e Logística (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The Bauru Aquifer System is one of the largest groundwater reservoirs of the São Paulo State and it is the most extensively and intensively exploited. Concentrations of nitrate, above the drinking water standard (10 mg/L NO3-N), were detected in several deep drilling and shallow (dug) wells, located at the urban areas of Bauru, Marília and Presidente Prudente cities, the mid-western region of the São Paulo State. The main objective of this project is the evaluation of the trends in increment of nitrate concentrations in groundwater, over time and space, in relation to urban development at these cities. The expected activities include the potential of contamination sources (septic tanks, cesspits and wastewater disposal leakage), deep drilling wells and/or shallow (dug) wells registers, groundwater sampling for physico-chemical, chemical and stable isotopes analyses (15NNH4, 15NNO3, 18ONO3, 18O and 2H), compilation of land use maps and estimation of potential nitrate concentrations. It is believed that results of this study can define the relationship between urban densities, sanitation system and nitrate concentrations, as well as the establishment of criteria and recommendations that provide the public authorities the elaboration of aquifer protection programs in the São Paulo State. (AU)