Contamination susceptibility of Serra Geral Aquifer at municipal scale in Brazil

Abstract In the present work we intend to discuss groundwater contamination and its susceptibility in Serra Geral Aquifer, in Brazil. For this purpose, a list of data concerning the wells located in the study region was elaborated, obtained from the Groundwater Information System (GIS) of the Geological Survey of Brazil. Moreover, data on land use occupancy from United States Geological Survey (USGS) images was constructed. In order to determine local susceptibility to contamination, cross-referencing data was obtained based on the susceptibility index (SI) as well as from methodologies and the pollutant origin and surcharge hydraulically (POSH) system. The results pointed that the SI of the municipality of Sarandi (Brazil, RS) ranged from very low (37%) to high (76%) contamination susceptibility. Included on these, 12% is in the very low range, 17,6% in low, 13% in moderate to low, 13,2% in moderate to high, and 44% in high contamination susceptibility. Furthermore, potential sources of pollutant load are concentrated in areas where the contamination SI has scored from moderate to high. It is concluded that the methodologies used are important tools that benefits and facilitate environmental impact assessments, enabling management for the purpose of protecting and preserving water resources in general.