Use of isotopes techniques to reveal the origin of water salinity in an arid region of Central-Western Argentina.

Groundwater is a strategic and vital resource for agriculture and oil production in the arid region of Carrizal sub-basin (CSB) in Argentina. Increasing groundwater salinity in some areas has created legal conflicts between water users over the source of the salinity. A multidisciplinary approach using hydrogeological, chemical and isotope tools were used to evaluate the source of groundwater salinity in CSB.