Explotación intensiva de los acuíferos carbonatados del altiplano de Murcia

Abstract

Groundwater overexploitation of the carbonate aquifers in the Altiplano area (Murcia province, SE Spain) represents an extreme situation of hydrologic deficit in a semiarid region supplied uniquely by groundwater. The study of the water balance terms in a series of such aquifers is the hydrological key point of an overall research aimed to make an integrated analysis of groundwater management. Estimation of input and outputs is here made by the recharge and abstraction quantification respectively. On the other hand, the knowledge of the hydrogeological behaviour of the aquifers- and therefore of their piezometric evolutions- is closely linked to the evaluation of the volume of reserves, an aspect which is usually less studied. Finally, a multidisciplinary analysis of the impacts generated by this type of groundwater development is necessary in order to reach an agreement among the stakeholders with the highest degree of consensus