Dependency on high-altitude recharge and pollution legacy in a peri-urban, tropical volcanic aquifer

Dependency on high-altitude recharge and pollution legacy in a peri-urban, tropical volcanic aquifer | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL Hydrological Processes This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 7 August 2025 V1 Latest version Share on Dependency on high-altitude recharge and pollution legacy in a peri-urban, tropical volcanic aquifer Authors : Rolando Sánchez-Gutiérrez 0000-0002-5050-021X [email protected] , Mario Villalobos-Forbes 0000-0003-0377-6229 , Alicia Fonseca-Sánchez , Ricardo Sanchez-Murillo 0000-0001-8721-8093 , Luis Quesada-Hernández , Karina Hernández-Ugalde , Esquivel-Hernández G 0000-0002-6890-6509 , Leonardo Mena-Rivera 0000-0002-7703-8475 , Jorengeth Rodríguez-Rodríguez , and Alicia Gómez-Cruz Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.175457175.54087529/v1 Published Hydrological Processes Version of record Peer review timeline 267 views 180 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract \received DD MMMM YYYY \acceptedDD MMMM YYYY Groundwater supplies over 90% of Costa Rica’s drinking water and supports vital ecosystem services, yet many aquifers, especially in high-altitude headwater catchments, remain understudied. This study aimed to (i) characterize the hydrogeochemistry and isotopic composition of the Poás volcanic aquifer system (PVAS), ii) identify the key drivers controlling the chemical and isotopic evolution, and (iii) understand recharge governing processes, including mean potential recharge elevations (MREs). We hypothesize that the groundwater in the PVAS exhibits distinct geochemical and isotopic patterns (from high to low altitudes) that reflect a combination of altitude-dependent recharge and anthropogenic pollution influence. Despite the complex geological setting, the predominant facies across the PVAS were of the bicarbonate-calcic-magnesic type. Moderately high levels of nitrate and E. coli in more than 56% of the samples indicate anthropogenic pollution legacy. Isotope-inferred MREs ranged from 768 to 2,407 m a.s.l with a mean of 1,549±227 m a.s.l, overlapping a diverse land use mosaic. These findings show the high vulnerability of the PVAS to anthropogenic contamination and the strong dependency on high-elevation recharge. This information provides a valuable tool for prioritizing conservation efforts in key recharge areas and may be translated to other similar settings across the Central America Cordillera. Supplementary Material File (figures_1-9.rar) Download 5.07 MB File (manuscript_sánchez-gutiérrez_et al_2025.docx) Download 2.03 MB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 07 August 2025 Peer review timeline Published Hydrological Processes Version of Record 10 Dec 2025 Published Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Collection Hydrological Processes Keywords groundwater hydrogeochemistry isotopic composition recharge altitude volcanic aquifer Authors Affiliations Rolando Sánchez-Gutiérrez 0000-0002-5050-021X [email protected] Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica View all articles by this author Mario Villalobos-Forbes 0000-0003-0377-6229 Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica View all articles by this author Alicia Fonseca-Sánchez Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica View all articles by this author Ricardo Sanchez-Murillo 0000-0001-8721-8093 The University of Texas Arlington Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences View all articles by this author Luis Quesada-Hernández Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica View all articles by this author Karina Hernández-Ugalde Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica View all articles by this author Esquivel-Hernández G 0000-0002-6890-6509 Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica View all articles by this author Leonardo Mena-Rivera 0000-0002-7703-8475 Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica View all articles by this author Jorengeth Rodríguez-Rodríguez Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica View all articles by this author Alicia Gómez-Cruz Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 267 views 180 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Rolando Sánchez-Gutiérrez, Mario Villalobos-Forbes, Alicia Fonseca-Sánchez, et al. Dependency on high-altitude recharge and pollution legacy in a peri-urban, tropical volcanic aquifer. Authorea . 07 August 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.175457175.54087529/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . 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