Groundwater Quality of the Lower Rio Bravo Aquifer in the Northern Zone of Tamaulipas
Authors: Flores Gloria Sandoval , Rocha Lisset Anel Alva , Elvir-Padilla Laura Gabriela , Montiel Karen Ramos 
Published: December 2024

Objective: The main objective is to evaluate the quality of groundwater used by the population of the ejidos of Reynosa, Tamaulipas. These wells are used for domestic consumption in rural households and for irrigation of sorghum crops in rainfed agriculture systems.

Theoretical Framework: Water supply sources in the northern region of Tamaulipas are experiencing a progressive depletion due to the scarcity of rainfall and the high temperatures characteristic of the region. This challenge is compounded by population growth, which has increased the demand for water. One possible solution to this problem is the exploitation of groundwater resources. However, monitoring activities on the quality of this resource are sporadic, with records dating back to 2006, and in the municipalities of Reynosa and Río Bravo there is almost no culture within the framework of good management practices for sustainable development in the use of groundwater in the lower Río Bravo basin.

Method: The approach for the analysis of water quality is carried out in wells located in the northern region of the municipalities of Reynosa and Río Bravo, Tamaulipas, through the linkage with the president of Rural Development District 156 to take samples in wells that are mostly used to supply water to crops and, in some cases, for cleaning activities in farms. Specifically, a detailed physicochemical analysis of the water resource is carried out with the purpose of issuing an opinion on its quality, which will make it possible to determine its potential uses and establish guidelines for sustainable and adequate management in its exploitation.

Results and Discussion: In the northern region of the state of Tamaulipas, the use of land for agriculture and the exploitation of the oil industry has been constantly punished. It is a latent fact that agricultural activity represents a significant risk of salinization and groundwater contamination due to the intensive use of agrochemicals. This risk is exacerbated by urban growth, which contributes to water resource contamination through industrial discharges and bacteriological contamination from inadequate wastewater management in population centers. These activities are the main sources of deterioration of groundwater quality and have worsened over time. In addition, the geological context of the region, characterized by stratigraphic formations with natural salinity, further contributes to the complexity of this problem.

Research Implications: The results obtained in the development of the project highlight the need for continuous monitoring of economic activities and population growth in the region, to avoid contamination of the aquifer to such levels that for a possible use, specific techniques would have to be implemented that would increase the cost of the water resource, as well as its disposal.

Originality/Value: The study of water quality in the aquifer of Río Bravo in the northern region of Mexico represents a considerable challenge, since it is an area affected by problems of insecurity, which makes sampling difficult. However, safe and reliable access to farms and ranches in the area was possible with the cooperation of their owners. This made it possible to carry out adequate sampling and obtain accurate in situ parameters, guaranteeing the veracity of the data obtained.