Hydrogeological characterization and water resources management in karst aquifers, city of Sete Lagoas (MG)

• Grant number: 13/22139-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: March 01, 2014
• End date: February 28, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Geology
• Principal Investigator: Ricardo César Aoki Hirata
• Grantee: Paulo Henrique Ferreira Galvão
• Supervisor: Todd Halihan
• Host Institution: Instituto de Geociências (IGC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Oklahoma State University, United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 12/12846-9 - HYDROGEOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND AN IMPLEMENTATION OF A MANAGEMENT MODEL FOR UNDERGROUND WATER RESOURCES IN AQUIFERS KARST, SETE LAGOAS CITY (MG), BP.DR

Abstract

The city of Sete Lagoas (Minas Gerais, Brazil) has experienced a strong and rapid socio-economic growth, aggravating resource problems, resulting in high population densities with increased groundwater exploitation from a karst aquifer system. In this context, the doctoral thesis aims to evaluate the groundwater resources, both quantitatively and qualitatively, to develop a water management model, in order to develop a better planning of urban occupation, minimizing the risk of water degradation and potential stakeholder conflicts on water uses. The presented results achieved until now were provided by fieldworks, well pumping tests and chemical analysis (physicochemical parameters, including major cation and anion compositions), allowing the development of the hydrogeological conceptual model. The next planned activity includes an exchange at the Boone Pickens School of Geology, Oklahoma State University (USA), a research group that has a strong and broadly recognized experience in water resources management in karst environments. The main objective of this exchange is to give a relevant technical and scientific support to the data interpretations, and to use their laboratory facilities at the Geochemistry Laboratory. At first, the expected results through the exchange are the improvement of the conceptual model and an additional support to the water management model development, that will brings substantial academic contributions to the DSc thesis. Secondly, a participation in advanced hydrogeology courses, fieldworks and laboratory techniques, and participation in other projects with the same subjects are included. In addition, the exchange will permit the improvement of the English language (spoken, written), considered as the scientific language, and required in any academic or private consulting job. The exchange is expected to start in March 2014, for one year period. (AU)