MANANTIALES DE UNA PARTE DEL VALLE CENTRAL DE COSTA RICA

Abstract

An inventory was made of springs in part of the Central Valley of Costa Rica. The springs withmajor discharge rates are Chorros (Tacares de Grecia), Puente de Mulas, La Libertad and Ojo de Agua. Manysprings are used to supply potable water to the population of San José, Alajuela and Heredia. The total dischargeof all springs can provide water for about 3 million people.The major springs discharge groundwater from a volcanic aquifer formed by a fractured lava flow along thecanyon of Virilla river and near to the town of Grecia. Many minor springs occurr to the south of Escazú andcerro Guarari, in Heredia.Some are vulnerable to anthropogenic pollution. To reduce the risk of contamination this work discusses somemethods to define protection zones. The analytical method is more precise in defining the recharge zone of aspring, but requieres too much information. The manual method can be modified to define a circular zone withthe center located up to the spring.