Priorización de fuentes de abastecimiento de agua subterránea para su protección en una región minera del centro de México
Prioritization of groundwater supply sources for protection in a mining region of central Mexico
Arianna Valle González1, José Luis Expósito Castillo1,*, Miguel Ángel Gómez Albores1, Juan Manuel Esquivel Martínez2, María Vicenta Esteller Alberich1
1 Instituto Interamericano de Tecnología y Ciencias del Agua, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México. Carretera Toluca-Atlacomulco, km 14.5, 50200, Toluca, Estado de México, México.
2 Secihti–UAEMéx, Instituto Interamericano de Tecnología y Ciencias del Agua, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México. Carretera Toluca-Atlacomulco, km 14.5, 50200, Toluca, Estado de México, México.
* Autor para correspondencia: (J.L. Expósito) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
How to cite this article:
Valle González, A., Expósito Castillo, J. L., Gómez Albores, M.A., Esquivel Martínez, J. M. y Esteller Alberich, M. V. (2026). Priorización de fuentes de abastecimiento de agua subterránea para su protección en una región minera del centro de México. Boletín de la Sociedad Geológica Mexicana, 78(1), A121225. https://doi.org/10.18268/BSGM2026v78n1A121225
Manuscript received: July 28, 2025. Corrected manuscript received: October 29, 2025. Manuscript accepted: December 10, 2025.
ABSTRACT
The protection of springs and other alternative groundwater sources in rural regions of Mexico is essential for ensuring the sustainability and water security of the population. In this context, the objective of this study was to prioritize groundwater supply sources: six springs and a mining pit used as a water intake point, located in the mining region of Temascaltepec, in southern State of Mexico, through the Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) a Geographic Information System (GIS) environment. The methodology comprised four stages: (1) hydrogeological assessment of the sources, (2) classification according to their origin, (3) delineation of protection zones, and (4) prioritization of the sources. The criteria considered were exclusive as a water supply source, inclusion of mining concessions within protection zones, evidence of actual contamination, and number of inhabitants supplied. The sources were classified as hypodermic or shallow-flow springs associated with fractured volcanic rocks. Three protection zones were defined for each spring, based on the delineation of the potential capture zone and the estimation of its recharge area. In the case of the mining pit, a specific methodology was applied to evaluate subsurface inflow in mining drains. The AHP allowed the identification of priority sources: 86% were classified as low or moderate priority, while the mining pit showed high priority. This approach may prove useful in regions with mining concessions that have not yet been exploited, where the protection of springs requires a preventive perspective that promotes balanced territorial planning between mining activities and the conservation of water resources.
Keywords: protection zone, groundwater, supply sources, mining region, Geographical Information System (GIS), AHP.