HYDROCHEMICAL AND GEOLOGICAL CORRELATION TO ESTABLISH THE GROUNDWATER SALINITY OF THE COASTAL AQUIFER OF THE MANGLARALTO RIVER BASIN, ECUADOR

Abstract

The Manglaralto aquifer is located at the north of the province of Santa Elena, Ecuador, its importance is based on the source of supply for the sector. The objective of this work is to characterize the waters of this hydrogeological system by means of hydrochemical techniques (Piper and Stiff diagrams) and their correlation with the geology of the area, as well as the determination of marine intrusion. The methodology used is based on the concentrations of the major ions, which have been obtained by the water–rock interaction, where the geological analysis helps to understand the conceptual hydrogeological model. The obtained results indicate that there are two groups of waters: in the part closest to the interior of the basin with facies mainly bicarbonate and calcium-sodium, while nearest the sea shows markedly calcified calcium facies, and the existence of marine intrusion in the well closest to the coastline.