157 Exploring Groundwater Recharge and Management: Managed Aquifer Recharge and Other Innovative Tools for Water Supply Development and Operations

Growing demand for water has highlighted the need to understand aquifer recharge to improve groundwater management and production methods. This session explores groundwater recharge and innovative water supplies and infrastructure. Topics include evapotranspiration, vadose zone processes, brackish groundwater desalination, managed aquifer recharge, stormwater management, and others.

Tuesday, 21 October 2025
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
HBGCC, 209

Groundwater quality and citizen science in arid regions: Designing and implementing a community-based monitoring network in Mexico

Paper number: 157-14
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 11:30 AM – 11:45 AM

Authors

Abstract

The Comarca Lagunera in north-central Mexico faces persistent groundwater quality challenges, particularly high arsenic concentrations, which have led to serious public health concerns. Addressing these issues requires integrated approaches that combine scientific rigor with community engagement. This work presents the design and implementation of a community-based groundwater quality monitoring network, developed through collaboration between universities, local authorities, and citizen volunteers.

The network’s design applied geostatistical methods to optimize monitoring locations using covariance matrices from spherical semivariograms of arsenic data (average 69 µg/L, maximum 379 µg/L) from 118 water samples. Kalman filter estimation minimized error variance, prioritizing sites with lower arsenic concentrations to identify and preserve areas of good groundwater quality. The final configuration identified 60 key monitoring sites  that provided optimal spatial coverage with minimal error increase beyond this number.

In parallel, citizen science was integrated to ensure sustainability and public participation. Undergraduate environmental science students were trained in groundwater sampling and data documentation, with results published on an open-access platform. Educational materials were co-developed with local institutions, and health-related interpretations of results were communicated back to participants, maintaining engagement.

The integration of technical design and participatory monitoring has demonstrated the feasibility of combining advanced hydrogeological tools with citizen science to improve the reach and effectiveness of groundwater quality monitoring. This approach not only aims to enhance existing governmental programs but also empowers communities to mitigate exposure risks and engage in more effective water governance. This combined methodology is adaptable to other regions worldwide with similar hydrogeological and social challenges, providing a cost-effective, scalable tool for sustainable groundwater management and environmental justice.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 57, No. 6

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-412071

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