Hydrogeochemical Characteristics and Assessment of Drinking Water Quality in the Urban Area of Zamora, Mexico

This work assessed the groundwater hydrogeochemistry and the drinking water quality of 10 wells supplying the urban area of Zamora, Michoacan, Mexico. Two sampling campaigns were conducted in May 2018 (dry season) and November 2018 (wet season) to describe the chemistry of the water and its interaction with the rock. Physical and chemical constituents (temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, color, turbidity, solids, total hardness, total alkalinity, chemical and biochemical oxygen demands), major components (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, SO42-, PO43-, HCO3-, CO32-, Cl-, N-NO3-, and N-NH3), as well as trace elements (As, Fe, Mn, Ba, Al, Sb, Co, V, Cu, Cd, Cr, Ni, Zn, Tl, Pb) were analyzed. Results showed groundwater with a slight tendency to alkalinity. The hydrogeochemical facies observed are Ca2+-HCO3- in all sites. Hydrochemical diagrams indicate immature, cold, non-saline, and uncontaminated water with short residence time. Water-rock interaction predominates. The water in the study area is appropriate for drinking use according to Mexican and international regulations with an excellent quality in 7 wells and good in the other 3.