<p>Salto district, a key horticultural area in Uruguay, has crucial water sources such as the Guarani Aquifer System, the Salto-Arapey Aquifer System (SAAS), and the San Antonio Creek (SAC). Agricultural and livestock activities have increased in recent years, leading to demographic growth and housing expansion. Concerns about water quality arise due to limited studies on environmental exposure to harmful chemicals and microbiological factors from agriculture, inadequate wastewater treatment, and septic tank seepage in rural areas. The present study collected hydrochemical background and new sampling data for hydrogeochemical and water quality evaluation (28 parameters) from SAAS (73 wells) and SAC (6 sites). Results indicated groundwater from SAAS is mainly sodium bicarbonate type, RAS index shows low saline waters and microbiological contamination were detected in half of the sampled wells, As levels (4.0–49.3 <InlineEquation ID="IEq1"> <InlineMediaObject> <ImageObject Color="BlackWhite" FileRef="10661_2025_14020_Article_IEq1.gif" Format="GIF" Height="12" Rendition="HTML" Resolution="72" Type="Linedraw" Width="15" /> </InlineMediaObject> <EquationSource Format="TEX">$\mu $</EquationSource> <EquationSource Format="MATHML"><math> <mi>μ</mi> </math></EquationSource> </InlineEquation>gL<InlineEquation ID="IEq2"> <InlineMediaObject> <ImageObject Color="BlackWhite" FileRef="10661_2025_14020_Article_IEq2.gif" Format="GIF" Height="11" Rendition="HTML" Resolution="72" Type="Linedraw" Width="18" /> </InlineMediaObject> <EquationSource Format="TEX">$^{-1}$</EquationSource> <EquationSource Format="MATHML"><math> <mmultiscripts> <mrow /> <mrow /> <mrow> <mo>-</mo> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </mmultiscripts> </math></EquationSource> </InlineEquation>), total phosphorus (P) (50–178.5 mg/L), and nitrate (NO<InlineEquation ID="IEq3"> <InlineMediaObject> <ImageObject Color="BlackWhite" FileRef="10661_2025_14020_Article_IEq3.gif" Format="GIF" Height="20" Rendition="HTML" Resolution="72" Type="Linedraw" Width="14" /> </InlineMediaObject> <EquationSource Format="TEX">$_{3}^{-}$</EquationSource> <EquationSource Format="MATHML"><math> <mmultiscripts> <mrow /> <mrow> <mn>3</mn> </mrow> <mo>-</mo> </mmultiscripts> </math></EquationSource> </InlineEquation>) (7.0–168.5 mg/L). SAC hydrochemistry revealed high levels of P (77.5–163.5 <InlineEquation ID="IEq4"> <InlineMediaObject> <ImageObject Color="BlackWhite" FileRef="10661_2025_14020_Article_IEq1.gif" Format="GIF" Height="12" Rendition="HTML" Resolution="72" Type="Linedraw" Width="15" /> </InlineMediaObject> <EquationSource Format="TEX">$\mu $</EquationSource> <EquationSource Format="MATHML"><math> <mi>μ</mi> </math></EquationSource> </InlineEquation>g/L), which could be one of the factors that promote the appearance of signs of eutrophication towards the mouth of the Uruguay River. Spatial distribution of total arsenic (As) in SAAS and water quality evaluation of SAC assess future human health risks. These results represent a challenge to foster Uruguayan water education and raise public awareness about the importance of using safe water for human consumption and irrigation.</p>

Hydrochemical analysis and evaluation of water quality in the Salto-Arapey aquifer and San Antonio Creek, Salto, Uruguay, as a diagnosis for water resources management

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发表日期：

2025年5月25日

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Elena Alvareda,
Manuel Gimenez,
Julián Ramos,
Armando Borrero,
Andrea Texo,
Lucas Bessone,
Esteban Abelenda,
Andrés Saracho,
Rafael Navas,
Valery Bühl,
Sofía Da Rocha,
Pablo Gamazo

摘要

Salto district, a key horticultural area in Uruguay, has crucial water sources such as the Guarani Aquifer System, the Salto-Arapey Aquifer System (SAAS), and the San Antonio Creek (SAC). Agricultural and livestock activities have increased in recent years, leading to demographic growth and housing expansion. Concerns about water quality arise due to limited studies on environmental exposure to harmful chemicals and microbiological factors from agriculture, inadequate wastewater treatment, and septic tank seepage in rural areas. The present study collected hydrochemical background and new sampling data for hydrogeochemical and water quality evaluation (28 parameters) from SAAS (73 wells) and SAC (6 sites). Results indicated groundwater from SAAS is mainly sodium bicarbonate type, RAS index shows low saline waters and microbiological contamination were detected in half of the sampled wells, As levels (4.0–49.3 $\mu $ $μ$ gL $^{-1}$ $^{- 1}$ ), total phosphorus (P) (50–178.5 mg/L), and nitrate (NO $_{3}^{-}$ $_{3}^{-}$ ) (7.0–168.5 mg/L). SAC hydrochemistry revealed high levels of P (77.5–163.5 $\mu $ $μ$ g/L), which could be one of the factors that promote the appearance of signs of eutrophication towards the mouth of the Uruguay River. Spatial distribution of total arsenic (As) in SAAS and water quality evaluation of SAC assess future human health risks. These results represent a challenge to foster Uruguayan water education and raise public awareness about the importance of using safe water for human consumption and irrigation.