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Environmental hydrology laboratory (National University of Costa Rica)
The Environmental Hydrology Laboratory (EHL) is an entity belonging to the National University of Costa Rica, whose work focuses on evaluating the effects of human activities on groundwater and surface waters. Its main mission is to generate knowledge about water resources and collaborate with civil society and public and private institutions in identifying the main causes of environmental degradation, proposing solutions, and guiding efforts to mitigate the negative impact of development projects on water resources. This approach is carried out in an interdisciplinary manner, aiming to promote Integrated Water Resource Management.[https://www.biologia.una.ac.cr/index.php/conozcanos-lab-hi-am Biología UNA: About Us - Environmental Hydrology Laboratory. Retrieved from https://www.biologia.una.ac.cr/index.php/conozcanos-lab-hi-am]

The laboratory is led by a team of distinguished scientists, including M.Sc. Helga Madrigal Solís, who serves as Coordinator, M.Sc. Alicia Fonseca Sánchez, and M.Sc. Hazel Calderón Sánchez, both Academic-Researchers, as well as M.Sc. Luis Eduardo Quesada Hernández, also an Academic-Researcher.

One of the main areas of collaboration for the EHL is integrated water resource management, involving everything from basic research to the implementation of active and participatory processes. This holistic approach is essential for addressing the complex challenges related to water management.

History

The laboratory's history dates back to the early 1990s when research at the National University indicated possible contamination problems in the aquifers of the Central Valley, especially by nitrates and other pollutants. In response, the Environmental Hydrology Laboratory (EHL) was founded in 1990 with the purpose of investigating the impacts of human activities on groundwater. Over the years, the EHL has expanded its scope, focusing on studying the aquifers of the Central Valley and the coastal areas of the northern Pacific and the Caribbean, as well as establishing relationships with urban ecology, soil, and climate variables. The results of these investigations are shared with the scientific community and the public through specialized publications, seminars, and discussion forums.

In addition to research, the EHL has a strong connection to education, providing training to Costa Rican and foreign students. It has also developed exchange and training activities with universities and institutions in Latin America, the United States, Spain, and the Netherlands.

The mission of the Environmental Hydrology Laboratory is to contribute to the comprehensive management of water resources at the national and international levels by generating tools and inputs for decision-making that promote environmental sustainability and improve the quality of life for society. Its vision is to be a model laboratory in the field of integrated water resource management, leading processes in research, education, and outreach that support sustainable development.

Among its main objectives are to develop tools and inputs for Integrated Water Resource Management, strengthen this management through participatory processes, and contribute to university teaching and learning by involving students in the laboratory's academic activities. [https://www.biologia.una.ac.cr/index.php/conozcanos-lab-hi-am Biología UNA: About Us - Environmental Hydrology Laboratory. Retrieved from https://www.biologia.una.ac.cr/index.php/conozcanos-lab-hi-am]

Overview of the research of the Environmental Hydrology Laboratory

The Environmental Hydrology Laboratory (EHL) at the National University of Costa Rica focuses on evaluating the impacts of human activities on groundwater and surface waters. Its interdisciplinary approach aims to generate knowledge about water resources and collaborate with various stakeholders to identify and address environmental degradation. Led by a team of distinguished scientists, the laboratory conducts research, education, and outreach activities to promote Integrated Water Resource Management. Since its establishment in the early 1990s, the EHL has expanded its scope to study aquifers in the Central Valley and coastal areas, while also engaging in international collaborations. By sharing research findings through publications, seminars, and forums, the laboratory contributes to informed decision-making and sustainable water management practices. Moreover, through education and training initiatives, the EHL cultivates the next generation of water resource professionals and fosters partnerships for addressing water challenges.

Research papers of the laboratory:

Discriminant Model and Hydrogeochemical Processes in Volcanic Aquifers

The volcanic Barva and Colima multiaquifer system in Costa Rica is vital for supplying drinking water to approximately 1.7 million people, constituting about 30% of the population. Understanding hydrochemical and hydrogeological dynamics in this complex system, affected by both anthropogenic and natural processes, is crucial for groundwater protection. A research endeavor aimed to develop a model for discriminating groundwaters based on the main withdrawn aquifer and flow path, assessing interaquifer connections, and evaluating hydrochemical processes influencing water quality. Sample analysis (571 samples from 38 sites) conducted quarterly from 2016 to 2020 focused on nitrate, major ions, and silica. Results revealed distinct sample groupings corresponding to primary aquifer systems captured, such as Upper Barva, Lower Barva, Upper Colima, and Lower Colima, along with identified flow paths within certain aquifers. Hydrochemical and statistical analyses highlighted resilience to seasonal chemical variations in deeper aquifers and delineated three groundwater mixing processes. Principal processes governing groundwater quality included weathering of mafic andesitic-basaltic lavas in Lower Barva, as indicated by enrichment in bicarbonate, magnesium, calcium, sodium, and silica. The Upper and Lower Colima aquifers exhibited higher silica and major ion content, attributed to longer residence times and dissolution from felsic andesitic minerals. The study underscores the dominance of weathering processes in controlling groundwater quality across the studied aquifers, with potential modifications from cation exchange, interaquifer leakage, and anthropogenic activities.[Ecosystemic assessment of surface water quality in the Virilla River: Towards sanitation processes in Costa Rica(https://doi.org/10.3390/w10070845)]

Stable Isotopic Composition in Precipitation and Groundwater

Understanding the linkage between precipitation and recharge remains limited in Central America. This study focuses on stable isotopic composition in precipitation and groundwater in the northern mountainous region of the Central Valley of Costa Rica. During the dry season, rainfall samples exhibited enrichment events with high deuterium excess. By mid-May, the Intertropical Convergence Zone's presence over Costa Rica led to a depletion of δ18O/δ16O and δ2H/δ1H ratios in rainfall. A parsimonious regression model predicted daily δ18O in precipitation with reasonable accuracy (r2 = 0.52). Air mass back trajectories revealed a blend of Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean sources, reflected in the groundwater isoscape. Aquifers with Pacific-originated recharge displayed a more depleted pattern, while those influenced by Caribbean parental moisture showed enrichment. These findings offer insights to enhance modeling efforts in Central America, where limited long-term data constrain water resource management planning. :** [Isotopic composition in precipitation and groundwater in the northern mountainous region of the Central Valley of Costa Rica](https://doi.org/10.1080/10256016.2016.1193503)

Importance of Restoration in Water Resource Management

Water is a fundamental resource for life, health, ecosystems, society, and economic activities. The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 6 emphasizes the importance of ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water resources. Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) plays a crucial role in conserving water quantity and quality, reducing threats and vulnerabilities in watersheds, adapting to climate change, and achieving sustainable water management. Within the framework of IWRM, tools can be applied to propose and implement ecological restoration processes for water resource protection and conservation. The Environmental Hydrology Laboratory has applied various restoration tools, including legal protection zone determination and restoration, protection perimeter determination for springs and wells used for human consumption, ecological restoration proposals through multicriteria evaluation, and environmental education and outreach on water resource restoration and protection. These tools, applied in research and extension projects, have enabled the development of watershed plans serving as models for local participatory management, contributing to water governance, water security, climate change adaptation, and improved environmental health at the watershed scale. [The importance of restoration in water resource management](https://doi.org/10.46661/summermeeting21.2024.15)

Ecosystemic Assessment of Surface Water Quality in the Virilla River

Water quality information is crucial for decision-making in water management processes, yet it remains limited in many regions, particularly in developing countries. This study conducted an ecosystemic water quality assessment in the Virilla River in Costa Rica, focusing on a section of interest for future sanitation development. Monitoring of physical, chemical, microbiological, and benthic macroinvertebrate parameters from 2014 to 2016 revealed deteriorating water quality downstream towards urbanized areas, characterized by extreme values of phosphorus, nitrogen, and E. coli. Multivariate statistics and water quality indexes identified two distinct clusters of sample sites corresponding to land use patterns. Benthic macroinvertebrates, predominantly represented by specific taxa, were influenced by various water quality parameters. Overall, the study highlights the urgent need for regulating wastewater discharges to mitigate pollution sources and improve the condition of the Virilla River. **Source:** [Ecosystemic assessment of surface water quality in the Virilla River: Towards sanitation processes in Costa Rica](https://doi.org/10.3390/w10070845) Floralepe (talk) 04:26, 27 April 2024 (UTC)