Abstract:The Mezquital Valley (MV) hosts the largest unmanaged aquifer recharge scheme in the world. The metropolitan area of Mexico City discharges~60 m 3 /s of raw wastewater into the valley, a substantial share of which infiltrates into the regional aquifer. In this work, we aim to develop a comprehensive approach, adapted from oil and gas reservoir modeling frameworks, to assess water supply sources located downgradient from unmanaged aquifer recharge zones. The methodology is demonstrated through its application to the Mezquital Valley region. Geological, geoelectrical, petrophysical and hydraulic information is combined into a 3D subsurface model and used to evaluate downgradient supply sources. Although hydrogeochemical variables are yet to be assessed, outcomes suggest that the newly-found groundwater sources may provide a long-term solution for water supply. Piezometric analyses based on 25-year records suggest that the MV is close to steady-state conditions. Thus, unmanaged recharge seems to have been regulating the groundwater balance for the last decades. The transition from unmanaged to managed recharge is expected to provide benefits to the MV inhabitants. It will also be likely to generate new uncertainties in relation to aquifer dynamics and downgradient systems.
a b s t r a c tGeothermal resource evaluation was accomplished for the Baja California Peninsula hydrothermal systems. Numerous geothermal areas were identified along the eastern coast of the Peninsula, which are related with the Gulf of California opening process. The western coast presents hydrothermal activity in the northern part related with regional faults like the Agua Blanca Fault nearby Ensenada. The southern part of the Peninsula also has abundant geothermal resources related with local grabens. The heat in place evaluation was accomplished for five geothermal areas where geophysical data were available to estimate the reservoir volume. The minimum calculated potential is more than 400 MWe. There are still more than six geothermal prospects with calculated temperatures above 200 • C that lack reliable information on the reservoir volume and would increase the geothermal potential of the Peninsula. Surface heat loss from the submarine systems reaches more than 6000 MWt.
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