Prevención del proceso de intrusión marina en zonas costeras urbanas

Intensive pumping in urban coastal areas is a common threat to water resources quality by means of seawater intrusion. In those areas where groundwater resources are not usually used for human supply or irrigation, intensive pumping is associated to other activities like lowering water table, necessary to build up underground structures and foundations. Under these circumstances, the awareness of a certain municipality (Calonge, NE Catalonia) about the potential effects of groundwater withdrawal upon foundations has derived in an integrated approach to prevent seawater intrusion related to urban development. Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) geophysics and hydrochemical data permit a comprehensive knowledge of the geological and hydrogeological characteristics of the area necessary to determine the management strategies in coastal aquifers.