Exploratory Socio-hydrogeological Assessment of the Long-term Effects of Groundwater Contamination to Improve Population Resilience

Ayodeji Stanley Olowoselu

Key information

Authors:

Ayodeji Stanley Olowoselu (Ayodeji Stanley Olowoselu)

Supervisors:

Sofia Isabel Bento Coelho; Nuno Miguel de Jesus Barreiras (Nuno Miguel de Jesus Barreiras); Maria Teresa Condesso de Melo (Maria Teresa Condesso de Melo)

Published in

09/04/2019

Abstract

Contamination of groundwater can pose serious challenges especially in environment where hydrogeological conditions increase the vulnerability level of the aquifer to contamination. The Estarreja region, Northwest of Portugal is an example where an industrial complex is located within a highly vulnerable environment, thereby triggering the effects of long-term groundwater contamination resulting in threats to the inhabitants (humans and ecosystems) and triggering various socio-economic challenges. In this study, we combined hydrogeological information of the environment with social data (perceptions and reactions) information of some inhabitants (respondents) for the purpose of understanding the existing challenges towards improving the population resilience. Vulnerability analysis of the aquifer showed that the area is highly vulnerable to contamination activities especially areas around the chemical complex (high to extremely high vulnerability).The results from hydrogeochemical analyses showed that the area is still undergoing varying levels of contamination activities as indicated in the major processes controlling groundwater chemistry in the area. Multivariate statistical analysis using principal component analysis (PCA) further confirmed the major hypothesis of the study that groundwater is influenced by anthropogenic contamination mainly from surface waters in channels located in the study area. Combining the hydrogeological and social information presented a complex link between the data that does not follow a rational line of thoughts, which could be possibly due to the fact that there are no effective communication of risks and possible precautions that could results from using the groundwater resources in its contaminated state. Therefore the need for effective stakeholder participatory campaigns and awareness to improve the population resilience.