Hydrochemical and geophysical characterization of a submerged groundwater discharge in Quintana Roo, Mexico

Groundwater discharges (GD) provide information for understanding the local hydrogeology of a region. This study comprehensively describes a GD in the coast of Quintana Roo, quantifying the volumetric discharge and describing the hydrochemistry and geophysics of the site in order to contribute to the knowledge of the coastal karst aquifer in Quintana Roo. The GD described is an oval opening with an approximate area of 0.0507 m(2) where major elements, silicates, metals and stable isotopes of water (delta H-2 and delta O-18) were quantified monthly. The contribution of the accumulated monthly rainfall (Qp) in the discharge flow was calculated; electrical resistivity tomography was performed to identify saturated zones and flow zones. In general, Na, K, Ca, Mg, and Cl tend to decrease as Qp increases. SiO2, ORP and salinity do not show clear relations with changes in Q(p), only in some sampling events there was a positive relationship, while the rest of the time is negative or null. The water is sodium-potassium-chloride type. The contribution of groundwater dominates, seawater contributes between 2 and 16% of the flow. The greatest contribution of seawater is observed when the flow of the GD is low. The contribution of Qp is between 1 and 15% and is not measured immediately. Geophysics survey suggest the existence of a lens of free fresh water approximately 2.5 m thick and recharge zones, as well as the existence of small dissolution channels where groundwater flows. The results capture local and regional aquifer recharge events.