Published Paper

This case study by James K. Adamson, Wm Javan Miner, Pierre-Yves Rochat, Emmanuel Moliere, Michael Piasecki, G. Thomas LaVanchy, Sergio Perez-Monforte, and Maria Rodriguez-Vera evaluates the significance of mountain-block recharge - specifically river infiltration - for two alluvial aquifers serving the Port-au-Prince metropolitan region (RMPP): the Plaine du Cul-de-Sac and Plaine de Leogane. The authors synthesized piezometric (groundwater level), streamflow, stable-isotope, and chloride data to trace how water moves from rivers originating in the Massif de la Selle mountain block into these aquifers.

The analysis found that infiltration from the Grise and Blanche rivers may account for more than 80% of recharge to the Cul-de-Sac aquifer, while the Momance and Rouyone rivers may account for more than 50% of recharge to the Leogane aquifer, with both showing temporal variation tied to El Nino/La Nina climate cycles. Bulk recharge to the Massif de la Selle carbonate aquifer system itself is estimated to be roughly four times greater than recharge to both alluvial aquifers combined - and the Massif already supplies about 65% of RMPP's water directly through karst springs.

KEY TAKEAWAY: Both alluvial aquifers rely heavily on infiltration from rivers originating in the Massif de la Selle, underscoring that protecting the health and watershed of that mountain range is critical to sustaining Port-au-Prince's water supply, both directly (springs) and indirectly (river-fed alluvial aquifers).

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Published online 16 June 2022 (Hydrogeology Journal 30:1367-1386); part of the "Advancements in hydrogeological knowledge of Haiti" topical collection.