Peligro de contaminación del acuífero freático en la localidad balnearia de Monte Hermoso, provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina

Particularly, in arid and semi-arid areas world population \ngrowth implies a challenge for the management of \ngroundwater resources. A greater water consumption in a \nshort term added to the uncontrolled anthropization of new areas, result in a significant deterioration of the resource. In this way, the environment and the populations that are supplied \nwith water resources are harmed. Monte Hermoso is a tourist city located on southwest coast of Buenos Aires province. Today, \nthe only source of water supply is the phreatic aquifer housed in the coastal dunes. The groundwater is fresh water and of \nchemical quality suitable for human consumption. Due to the characteristics aquifer, a pollutant introduction causes \ndeterioration in chemical quality, and results in the non-use of water large volumes. Using a world-accepted methodology (the \ninteraction between the aquifer vulnerability and calculated pollutant load indexes) the contamination hazard of the \ngroundwater was determined. Considering the obtained results, the contamination hazard of the phreatic aquifer classifies as \n“High”. Thus, there is a need to include these results in a comprehensive management plan for groundwater resource. This will \nallow to anticipate conflicts and to minimize negative impacts on the population and the environment.