The zoning of groundwater recharge potential would be attractive for water managers, but is lacking in many regions around the planet, including in the Jequitiba River basin, Minas Gerais, Brazil. In this study, a physically based spatially distributed method to evaluate groundwater recharge potential at catchment scale was developed and tested in the aforementioned Jequitiba River basin. The data for the test was compiled from institutional sources and implemented in a Geographic Information System. It comprised meteorological, hydrometric, relief, land use, and soil data. The average results resembled the annual recharge calculated by a hydrograph method, which worked as validation method. The spatial variation of recharge highlighted the predominant contribution of flat areas, porous aquifers, and forested regions to groundwater recharge. They also exposed the negative effect of urbanization. In combination, these factors elected the following sectors of the Jequitiba River basin as regions of high recharge potential: the south-southeast part of the headwaters in Prudente de Morais; Sete Lagoas towards the central part of the basin; and the region between Funilandia and Jequitiba, near the Jequitiba river mouth. Some management practices were suggested to improve groundwater recharge. The map of groundwater recharge potential produced in this study is valuable and is therefore proposed as tool for planners in the sustainable use of groundwater and protection of recharge areas.
1.Univ Fed Minas Gerais, 6620 Antonio Carlos Ave, BR-31270901 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil 2.Brazilian Agr Res Corp Embrapa Maize & Sorghum, BR-3570197 Sete Lagoas, MG, Brazil 3.Univ Tras os Montes & Alto Douro, CQVR Chem Res Ctr, Quinta Prados Ap 1013, P-5001801 Vila Real, Portugal
Recommended Citation:
da Costa, Adriana Monteiro,Cardoso de Salis, Hugo Henrique,Moreira Viana, Joao Hebert,et al. Groundwater Recharge Potential for Sustainable Water Use in Urban Areas of the Jequitiba River Basin, Brazil[J]. SUSTAINABILITY,2019-01-01,11(10)