Springs in Spain: classification according to their flows and lithologies and their hydraulic contributions
1996
San Perez, E.
This paper presents an approach to regional hydrological balance where the number and integrated discharge of springs are used to estimate recharge. This technique is applied to Spain, where approximately two-thirds of the country has an inventory of spring lithology and discharge (17,000 springs). The data are used to extrapolate results to the entire region and are compared to independent methods of estimating recharge. This is an informative use of commonly available information and it could be applied to other regions with a similar data base. From this sample, a distribution of the spring flow volume contribution in Spain is estimated (a) according to flow spring discharge, (b) as a limit of a lognormal distribution, which in our sample is simplified in a potential formula a(x) = 24,101.x-0.91. In this way it is calculated that the total flow volume of the springs is 14,877 hm3/yr. The study does not take into account seepage (diffuse discharge) draining to seas, rivers, or lakes but only water at the spring source. The most permeable lithological groups considered are the source of 94.2% of the total flow supplied by the springs. Limestone is especially significant, contributing 66.2%. The net recharge of precipitation to ground water varies widely according to lithologies. It reaches to 20.3% in limestones and drops to less than 1% for quartzites, slates, and plutonic rocks.
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