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

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. Data available at www.snirh.pt.