Hydrochemistry of groundwater from Tocumen sector, Panamá city: an assessment of its possible usage during emergency events

In Panama City, the water supply sources for the population come mainly from surface waters, but in times of drought and extreme natural phenomena, the need to resort to underground sources is explored. This paper concerns an exploratory investigation with the aim of assessing the quality of groundwater in the southeastern part of the Province of Panama and to determine its possible use as drinking water during extreme natural phenomena. Monthly monitoring over a period of 15 months was carried out. The study included the sampling and analysis of groundwater by different physic-chemical, hydrochemical and biological parameters. The results showed that most of the parameters in the analysed groundwater conformed to the Panamanian drinking water norm and the water potability diagram, this is a convenient source of raw water for purification. As for other uses for this water source, it should be used with caution since it represents a medium risk of soil salinization for irrigation water; and it is a moderately hard water for industrial uses

Characterization of the soil and rock hosting an aquifer with possible uses for drinking water and irrigation in SE Panama City using Geotechnical, Geophysical and Geochemical parameters

The supply of water to populations is a basic need that has been threatened more frequently in recent years due to climate change, which renders seeking other sources of water essential. The hydrochemistry of the groundwater of the aquifer located in the UTP Tocumen was characterized by previous research to determine its possible use as a source of drinking water and irrigation water. The objective of this study is to characterize the soil and rock hosting the aquifer to acquire more information about them with a view to possibly exploit an alternative source of drinking water. To this end, a 10-m-depth survey was conducted to obtain soil and rock samples from the area, and to characterize geotechnical and geochemical parameters. 2D electrical resistivity tomography was used to create a lithological model of the aquifer and to correlate the data. Soil is residual of the technosol type, considered permeable with a transmissivity level that favors rainwater infiltration, followed by the soil–rock interface, where rock is weathered. It´s followed by a sedimentary rock corresponding to marly siltstones with a certain degree of tectonic fractures that allow water infiltration and its accumulation in the rocks, constituting the aquifer. The 2D electrical resistivity suggests two water accumulations: a superficial and a deep one. There was a good correlation between the aquifer water’s chemistry and the rock geochemistry.El abastecimiento de agua a las poblaciones es una necesidad básica que se ha visto amenazada con mayor frecuencia en los últimos años debido al cambio climático, lo que hace imprescindible buscar otras fuentes de agua. Se caracterizó la hidroquímica del agua subterránea del acuífero ubicado en la UTP Tocumen mediante investigaciones previas para determinar su posible aprovechamiento como fuente de agua potable y agua de riego. El objetivo de este estudio es caracterizar el suelo y la roca que alberga el acuífero para adquirir más información sobre ellos con miras a la posibilidad de explotar una fuente alternativa de agua potable. Para ello, se realizó un sondeo de 10 m de profundidad para obtener muestras de suelos y rocas de la zona, y caracterizar parámetros geotécnicos y geoquímicos. Se utilizó tomografía de resistividad eléctrica 2D para crear un modelo litológico del acuífero y correlacionar los datos. El suelo es residual del tipo tecnosol, considerado permeable con un nivel de transmisividad que favorece la infiltración del agua de lluvia, seguido de la interfase suelo-roca, donde la roca se meteoriza. Le sigue una roca sedimentaria correspondiente a limolitas margosas con cierto grado de fracturas tectónicas que permiten la infiltración del agua y su acumulación en las rocas, constituyendo el acuífero. La resistividad eléctrica 2D sugiere dos acumulaciones de agua: una superficial y otra profunda. Hubo una buena correlación entre la química del agua del acuífero y la geoquímica de la roca. Le sigue una roca sedimentaria correspondiente a limolitas margosas con cierto grado de fracturas tectónicas que permiten la infiltración del agua y su acumulación en las rocas, constituyendo el acuífero. La resistividad eléctrica 2D sugiere dos acumulaciones de agua: una superficial y otra profunda. Hubo una buena correlación entre la química del agua del acuífero y la geoquímica de la roca. Le sigue una roca sedimentaria correspondiente a limolitas margosas con cierto grado de fracturas tectónicas que permiten la infiltración del agua y su acumulación en las rocas, constituyendo el acuífero. La resistividad eléctrica 2D sugiere dos acumulaciones de agua: una superficial y otra profunda. Hubo una buena correlación entre la química del agua del acuífero y la geoquímica de la roca

Ecological and health risk assessments of an abandoned gold mine (Remance, Panama): Complex scenarios need a combination of indices

The derelict Remance gold mine is a possible source of pollution with potentially toxic elements (PTEs). In the study area, diverse mine waste has been left behind and exposed to weather conditions, and poses risks for soil, plants and water bodies, and also for the health of local inhab-itants. This study sought to perform an ecological and health risk assessment of derelict gold mining areas with incomplete remediation, including: (i) characterizing the geochemical distribution of PTEs; (ii) assessing ecological risk by estimating the pollution load index (PLI) and potential ecological risk index (RI); (iii) assessing soil health by dehydrogenase activity; and iv) establishing non-carcinogenic (HI) and carcinogenic risks (CR) for local inhabitants. Soil health seems to depend on not only PTE concentrations, but also on organic matter (OM). Both indexes (PLI and RI) ranged from high to extreme near mining and waste accumulation sites. As indicated by both the HI and CR results, the mining area poses a health risk for local inhabitants and particularly for children. For this reason, it will be necessary to set up environmental management programs in the areas that are most affected (tailings and surrounding areas) and accordingly establish the best remediation strategies to minimize risks for the local populatio

Impacto ambiental sobre suelos y plantas por actividades extractivas en los contenidos de metales pesados y cianuro en la zona minera de Remance, Panamá

Tesis Doctoral inédita leída en la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Geología y Geoquímica. Fecha de Lectura: 06-05-2022Esta Tesis tiene embargado el acceso al texto completo hasta el 06-11-202