Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-mkpzs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-19T04:12:56.308Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The groundwater quality of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao: a hydrogeochemical study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 April 2016

M.H.G. van Sambeek ,
H.G.M. Eggenkamp  and
M.J.M. Vissers
H.G.M. Eggenkamp
Affiliation:
Utrecht University, Institute of Earth Sciences, P.O. Box 80021, 3508 TA UTRECHT, the Netherlands; e-mail: [email protected]
M.J.M. Vissers
Affiliation:
Utrecht University, Institute of Earth Sciences, P.O. Box 80021, 3508 TA UTRECHT, the Netherlands

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The Groundwater resources on the Caribbean Islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao are limited and of poor quality. The groundwater of the islands is brackish, due to both seawater mixing and the semi-arid climate of the islands. Two hundred and thirty water samples were collected to relate chemical variations in the groundwater of the three islands to the underlying differences in geology, and to define the natural versus anthropogenic influences. Both the chemical and isotopic (δ180, δD, and δ37Cl) compositions of samples were determined.

Several geochemical processes are recognised in the chemistry of the groundwater samples. The most important processes are calcite dissolution, cation exchange, silicate weathering and potassium fixation. In (sub)urban areas anthropogenic influences affect the groundwater quality: high nitrate concentrations were measured. Infiltrating domestic and agricultural (waste)water replenishes the aquifer, and has a desalinization effect on the groundwater quality. This phenomenon is primarily seen on Curaçao, the most populated island.

Oxygen and hydrogen isotopie compositions of groundwaters from Curaçao and Bonaire show that the samples are either meteoric water, or are affected by evaporation or seawater mixing. No distinction could be made between the last two processes. Only a few samples were measured for the Cl-isotope composition; all showed that no physical processes have taken place.

Keywords

geochemistrygroundwaterisotopesNetherlands Antilles
Type
Research Article
Information
Netherlands Journal of Geosciences , Volume 79 , Special Issue 4: Geochemical mapping in the Kingdom of the Netherlands , December 2000 , pp. 459 - 466
Copyright
Copyright © Stichting Netherlands Journal of Geosciences 2000

References

Abtmeier, B., 1978. Zur Hydrologie der Insel Curaçao, Ph.D. diesis Technische Hochschule Aachen: 178 pp.Google Scholar
Ayers, R.S. & Westcot, D.W., 1985. Water quality for agriculture. FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 29, rev. 1: 174 pp.Google Scholar
Beets, D.J., 1966. Stratigraphie position and age of a Cretaceous ammonite from Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles. Memoirs of the Faculty of Sciences, Kyushu University D 17: 287–294.Google Scholar
Beets, D.J. & MacGillavry, H.J., 1977. Outline of the Cretaceous and Early Tertiary history of Curaçao, Bonaire and Aruba. Guide to the field excursions on Curaçao, Bonaire and Aruba. STINAPA: 1–6.Google Scholar
Berende, P.L.M., Termin, R.W. & Van der Wal, P., 1979. High doses of nitrate in rations for milk-fed calves. 1. Effect on zootechnical characteristics, methemoglobin formation and nitrate and nitrtie in some organs. Zeitschrift für Tierphysiology, Tierernährung und Futtermittelkunde 42: 312–321.Google Scholar
De Buisonjé, P.H., 1974. Neogene and Quaternary geology of Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire. Natuurwetenschappelijke Studiekring voor Suriname en de Nederlandse Antillen (Utrecht) 78: 293 pp.Google Scholar
Eggenkamp, H.G.M., 1994. Ô37C1; the geochemistry of chlorine isotopes. Geologica Ultraiectina 116: 150 pp.Google Scholar
Frapporti, G., 1994. Geochemical and statistical interpretation of the Dutch national ground water quality monitoring network. Geologica Ultraiectina 115:119 pp.Google Scholar
Gonfiantini, R., 1986. Environmental isotopes in lake studies. In: Fritz, P. & Fontes, J. (eds.): Handbook of environmental isotope geochemistry 2. Elsevier (Amsterdam): 112–168.Google Scholar
Grontmij, & Sogreah, , 1968. Water and land resources development plan for the islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao. Report Grontmij (De Bilt): 133 pp.Google Scholar
Herweijer, J.P., De Buisonjé, P.H. & Zonneveld, J.I.S., 1977. Neogene and Quarternary geology and geomorphology. Guide to the field excursions on Curaçao, Bonaire and Aruba. STINAPA: 39–55.Google Scholar
Klaver, G.Th., 1987. The Curaçao Lava Formation; an ophiolitic analogue of the anomalous thick layer 2B of the Mid-Cretaceous oceanic plateaus in the Western Pacific and Central Caribbean. GUA Papers of Geology 27: 168 pp.Google Scholar
Lagaaij, R.A., 1969. Geophysical investigations of the Netherlands Leeward Antilles. Verhandelingen der Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen, afd. Natuurkunde, Reeks 1, 25: 1–86.Google Scholar
Linsen, R. & Van Sambeek, M.H.G., 1995. Geochemical ground-water survey of Bonaire. M.Sc. thesis, Utrecht University: 49 pp.Google Scholar
Louws, R.J. & Bruine, R., 1992. Groundwaters of Curaçao, a geochemical survey. M.Sc. thesis, Utrecht University: 43 pp.Google Scholar
Louws, R.J., Vriend, S.P. & Frapporti, G., 1997. De grondwaterkwaliteit van Curaçao. Een hydrogeochemisch onderzoek. H20 30:788–791.Google Scholar
MacGillavry, H.J., 1977. Tertiary formations. Guide to the field excursions on Curaçao, Bonaire and Aruba. STINAPA: 36–38.Google Scholar
Pijpers, P.J., 1933. Geology and paleontology of Bonaire (D.W.I.). Geographische en Geologische Mededeedelingen, Physiographisch-Geologische reeks 8: 1–101.Google Scholar
Rowbottom, R.J. & Winkel, C.W., 1979a. Well survey Aruba. Department of Agriculture Curaçao: 38 pp.Google Scholar
Rowbottom, R.J. & Winkel, C.W., 1979b. Well survey Bonaire. Department of Agriculture Curaçao: 42 pp.Google Scholar
Rowbottom, R.J. & Winkel, C.W., 1979c. Groundwater investigation Curaçao. Department of Agriculture Curaçao: 73 pp.Google Scholar
U.S. Salinity Laboratory Staff, 1954. Diagnosis and improvement of saline and alkali soils. U.S. Department of Agriculture Handbook 60: 160 pp.Google Scholar
Van Gaans, P.F.M., 1989. WATEQX - a restructured, generalized and extended FORTRAN 77 computer code and database format for the WATEQ aqueous chemical model for element speciation and mineral saturation, for use on personal computers or main frames. Computers and Geosciences 15: 843–887.Google Scholar
Westermann, J.H., 1932. The geology of Aruba. Geographische en Geologische Mededeedelingen, Physiographisch-Geologische reeks 7: 129 pp.Google Scholar
Westermann, J.H. & Zonneveld, J.I.S., 1956. Photo-geological observations and land capability & land use survey of the island of Bonaire. Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen (Amsterdam): 101 pp.Google Scholar