Discharge areas as a useful tool for understanding recharge areas, study case: Mexico Catchment

At present, demographic growth is a significant issue related to environmental damage due to an excessive use of water and forest. Governments are now interested in formulating new strategies that might help to reach a sustainable development. Thus, the Mexican Federal Government initiated an Environmental Hydrological Services Payment Programme in 2003 to preserve its forest territory, specifically to keep its groundwater recharge potential. However, the application of this programme was not supported by hydrogeological studies defining the physical media, rainwater and groundwater flows through proper identification of recharge areas as well as probable impacts to groundwater or to other components of the environment. Wide-view system studies still need to be incorporated. This work highlights the importance of including groundwater flow system investigations as a basis to support environmental projects where a clear understanding of groundwater functioning in relation to a zone receiving payment for hydrological environmental services is required. Stable isotopes and chemical characteristics of non-evaporated groundwater in discharge areas allow the computation of the altitude of recharging precipitation from where possible recharge area location is proposed. Finally, this paper puts forward groundwater flow system definition as a basic tool to support recommendation for an adequate water and environmental management.