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Water Resources Assessment of Nicaragua

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Water Resources Assessment of Nicaragua WATER RESOURCES ASSESSMENT OF NICARAGUA Nicaragua US Army Corps of Engineers Mobile District & Topographic Engineering Center MAY 2001 Water Resources Assessment of Nicaragua Executive Summary Nicaragua is rich in hydrologic resources, although much of the surface water is contaminated and not developed for water supply. The major source of surface water contamination is from untreated domestic and industrial waste disposal, as most effluent is released into the rivers and coastal areas without any treatment. Little regulation exists that addresses waste discharge and disposal. Nicaragua is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, with one of the highest annual growth rates in Latin America. Access to water and sanitation facilities is inadequate, particularly in the east where the population is sparse. This inadequacy of water services contributes to poor living conditions, disease, and a high mortality rate. Given the rainfall and abundant water resources, there is adequate water to meet the water demands, but proper management to develop and maintain the water supply requirements is lacking. Major problems in water management are the lack of a national water sector and the lack of a national water law. A national water law is before Congress now, but has not been passed. Deforestation, with its devastating environmental consequences, is a serious problem. Deforestation accelerates soil erosion, decreases the amount of recharge to aquifers by increasing surface runoff, damages barrier reefs and ecosystems, increases turbidity which affects mangroves, decreases agricultural production, and causes problems and increased maintenance of water systems and impoundments. Decades of land abuse and environmental neglect exacerbated the devastation of Hurricane Mitch (1998), in which deforestation played a major role. As a result of the polluted surface water, ground water is heavily relied upon for water supply. Sufficient supplies of fresh ground water are available throughout most of the country. The most abundant supplies are in Quaternary age alluvial aquifers interbedded with pyroclastic materials and Tertiary to Quaternary age volcanic deposits consisting of basalt and andesite lava flows with pyroclastic flows and fall deposits in the Nicaraguan Depression and Caribbean and Pacific lowlands. Many shallow aquifers are, however, becoming contaminated from surface pollution, and deeper springs and wells are depended upon to provide potable water. Many agencies share responsibility for overseeing the water resources of the country. A national water sector could enhance the coordination between the individual agencies working to provide water and sanitation. The passage of a national water law would also help preserve and protect the nation's future water resources and supplies. Long-term national construction programs of wastewater treatment plants to eliminate the continued discharge of waste into the nation's waters would help reduce the amount of chemical and biological wastes contaminating the rivers, lakes, and ground water. A large-scale ground water exploration program, starting in the areas having the best aquifers, would increase the amount of potable water available for water supply. i Water Resources Assessment of Nicaragua Preface The U.S. Southern Command Engineer's Office commissioned the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers District in Mobile, Alabama, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center, Topographic Engineering Center in Alexandria, Virginia, to conduct a water resources assessment of Nicaragua. This assessment has two objectives. One objective is to provide an analysis of the existing water resources and identify some opportunities available to the Government of Nicaragua to maximize the use of these resources. The other objective is to provide Nicaragua and U.S. military planners with accurate information for planning various joint military training exercises and humanitarian civic assistance engineer exercises. A team consisting of the undersigned water resources specialists from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mobile District and the Topographic Engineering Center conducted the water resources investigations for this report from 1998 through 2000. Thomas C. Webster Laura Waite Hydrologist Geologist and Report Manager Engineer Research and Development Center Mobile District Topographic Engineering Center Telephone: 334-690-3480 Telephone: 703-428-6891 Facsimile: 334-690-2674 Facsimile: 703-428-6991 Internet: [email protected] Internet: [email protected] Bruce Markley Hydrologist Engineer Research and Development Center Topographic Engineering Center Telephone: 703-428-7821 Facsimile: 703-428-6991 Internet: [email protected] iii Water Resources Assessment of Nicaragua Contents Title Page Executive Summary ................................................................................................................ i Preface.................................................................................................................................... iii List of Acronyms and Abbreviations ........................................................................................viii List of Place Names ................................................................................................................ x l. Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 1 ll. Country Profile .................................................................................................................. 2 A. Geography.......................................................................................................................... 2 B. Population and Social Impacts............................................................................................ 3 C. Economy............................................................................................................................. 4 D. Flood Control and Flooding................................................................................................. 4 E. Legistative Framework........................................................................................................5 lll. Current Uses of Water Resources................................................................................... 5 A. Water Supply and Distribution............................................................................................. 5 1. Domestic Uses and Needs.............................................................................................. 6 2. Industrial, Commercial, and Agricultural Uses and Needs............................................... 7 B. Hydropower ........................................................................................................................ 8 C. Stream Gage Network ........................................................................................................ 8 D. Waterway Transportation.................................................................................................... 8 E. Recreation .......................................................................................................................... 9 lV. Existing Water Resources...............................................................................................10 A. Surface Water Resources ...................................................................................................10 1. Precipitation and Climate ................................................................................................11 2. Drainage Regions ...........................................................................................................11 3. Lakes, Reservoirs, Swamps, and Lagoons .....................................................................16 4. Deforestation ..................................................................................................................17 B. Ground Water Resources ...................................................................................................18 1. Aquifer Definition and Characteristics .............................................................................20 2. Hydrogeology..................................................................................................................21 C. Water Quality......................................................................................................................22 1. Surface Water.................................................................................................................22 2. Ground Water .................................................................................................................24 3. Domestic Waste Disposal ...............................................................................................24 V. Water Resources Departmental Summary ......................................................................25 A. Introduction.........................................................................................................................25 B. Water Conditions by Map Unit.............................................................................................25 C. Water Conditions by Department and Autonomous Region ................................................26 Boaco .................................................................................................................................27
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