GROUNDWATER EMERGENCY PROGRAM’S HAZARDS IN COLOMBIA: FAR FORM RHETORIC, CLOSER TO REALITY

After several years of groundwater exploration based on geophysical prospecting, drilling, design, construction, and pumping test of wells up to 360 m. depth, it is possible to verify that Colombians have consumed inadequate drinkable groundwater. It is necessary to generate warns around threats to population’s health to improve programs in favor of drinkable water doing proper treatment for all groundwater supply systems around the national territory.

An emergency groundwater exploration program started using geo-electric exploration and geology field more than literature review where it is possible to decide how speculative stratigraphic features are. Also, potential threats that may arise by extracting groundwater for use in a specific geological region. Later, during the drilling of deep wells we realized the true stratigraphy, sedimentology, tectonic, and hydrogeological zone-based on samples and electric logs from wells. In addition, through the pumping test we can know several as physical, chemical, biological and bacteriological characteristics such as composition, quality and drinkable water. Also, hydrogeological parameters such as porosity, permeability, transmissibility, specific capacity, and resistivity, as well. In addition, it is possible to understand and quantify some hazards, vulnerability, and obviously risks that could affect to the most vulnerable population such as children and seniors.

Some poor municipalities do not have enough budgets and then had made decisions to deliver water with low quality because they cannot build a treatment plant or at least provided a basic treatment. For example, high iron groundwater passed through trays can cut the Iron percentage by simple aeration.

Finally, in the next future, it is important to elaborate statistics of gastrointestinal diseases to persuade leaders never forget approval to clean groundwater wells, reducing the threat.