Vulnerability of Sapucari and Maruim Karst Aquifers, sedimentary basin of Sergipe-Alagoas

Abstract

The karst aquifers Sapucari and Maruim are important water resources, responsible for human supply in the cities studied and metropolitan region of Aracaju/SE. The karst aquifers have great interest since the carbonate rocks occupy extensive areas, with distinct hydrological characteristics of great importance for their water reserve, pumping rate and water quality. The study aimed to generate the vulnerability map to contamination of karst aquifers with EPIK method application and identify areas susceptible to water contamination. This method takes into account four parameters: Development Epikarst (E); Protective Cover (P); Infiltration conditions (I); Karst network (K). The vulnerability classes presented with the EPIK method application were: very high, high and moderate. The areas with occurrences of caves, sinkholes and karrens showed the highest vulnerability values. The main potentially contaminating activities identified in the area were: agriculture activities, limestone explotation, petrochemical industry, urban development, gas stations and the presence of oil fields. Groundwater qualitative data indicated the presence of contamination by oil and grease from two wells in the cities of Laranjeiras and Nossa Senhora do Socorro originating from gas stations.

Keywords

• Epik. Vulnerabilidade. Aquíferos Cársticos. Bacia Sergipe-Alagoas.