MYTHS AND REALITIES ABOUT THE CONSUMPTION OF GROUNDWATER IN BOYACA, COLOMBIA: FAR FROM RHETORIC, CLOSER TO REALITY

It is not clear that wells are drilled to supply aqueducts and communities in Floresta, Nobsa and Sogamoso-Boyacá, towns located on aquifers with high iron content, and later, they are abandoned forever because they are considered to be harmful waters for the health of people; Although there is waste of water if the well is "saltine", Floresta case.

Is it a myth to think that 96% of the planet's drinking water is in form of groundwater? It is the hypothesis question that originates this article of reflection when the field visits were made to these wells. Drilling wells would seem an ideal, which can sometimes be achieved but in practice does not happen and it is necessary to bring these groundwater to a treatment plant.

Some societies expect that the groundwater for the supply of their aqueducts be completely pure, free of minerals and of course free if sediments so that it is drinkable to its citizens.

Other societies know their geology and admit that groundwater may contain high percentages of minerals (i.e.iron) and that they can be reduced by treatment through a simple free-fall of the water on carbon trays for aeration and subsequently be purified.

The reality is that beer and soft drinks bottlers in Boyacá also use wells with water extracted from geological and stratigraphically similar aquifers. Then, they purify this groundwater and prepare their products, which in these three studied towns, people consume drinks naturally without thinking that their health is at risk.

It is necessary to improve the training of communities by using a better education and motivation of people to allow the use of drinking groundwater according to international and national standards.

Keywords: Aquifer, Health, Drinkable, Hydrogeology, Geology, Iron