Monitoring NO3 contamination of aquifer system of Bacia do Cávado/Ribeiras Costeiras

Abstract

Groundwater quality is subject to law 2006/118/CE, related to protection against pollution. In Portugal, law 306/2007 establishes conditions for human consumption. Aquifers are subject to several pollutants, namely chemicals used for agricultural purposes. The aim of this work is to present a stochastic model for the concentration of NO3 over the aquifer of the so-called vulnerable zone number 1, Esposende-Vila do Conde, on the northern region of Portugal. The model proposed was fitted to four time periods, independently of each other, being spring and fall of 2008 and 2009.