Chloride Analysis of the Soils Overlaying the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer

Abstract

With a vast amount of people living in semi-arid to arid environments around the globe, the resource of water is valued very highly. The Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer in SW Texas is a semi-arid zone and was chosen as the site for this study. The Chloride Mass Balance Technique is an effective way to quantify depth and amount of water entering the soil at any given location to help predict potential recharge. Soil samples taken at eleven equally spaced depths over two meters across three soil types in the aquifers’ recharge zone will give us a better understanding on how water moves through soil and enters into the water table. The result will yield a better scope on how to properly manage land in these environments to maximize water infiltration to support our ever-growing human population.