Estudi de les fonts com a patrimoni natural i cultural: aplicació a Sant Hilari Sacalm

Abstract

“Study of springs as natural and cultural heritage: applied to Sant Hilari Sacalm” is a study carried out to evaluate some of the numerous springs within the municipality of Sant Hilari Sacalm in accordance to discharge, physicochemical, hidrogelogical, social, and cultural parameters these may present. During variuous field work campaigns, 26 locations were sampled and where further studied at two different laboratories concurrently. Specifically designed sheets and data collecting allowed sampling on site, recollecting information regarding location and access to the springs, hidrogeological and physicochemical parameters and aquifers. Springs were coded in order to permit an expansion of the project, adjusting them to studies around Catalunya and/or elsewhere. Results show that meteorology could have had an impact on sampling, nonetheless, 4 groups and 6 typologies were found in accordance to their hidrogeology: springs on crystallinic materials including fracture springs, springs on altered material, springs related to floodbanks, springs in regional faults and springs on quaternary sediment which correspond to alluvial formations. The majority of these waters are human-consumption ready, except for sparkling springs given their high fluoride content. Hidrochemical classification reveals that springs can be divided into sulfated, chlorinated and bicarbonated wateres these being continental waters in contact with short granitic medium thus have a poor chemical evolution. Finally, an evaluation was carried out, with the intention of determining which springs have the richest heritage. La Font de Sant Josep (SHS056), la Font de Santa Escolàstica (SHS058) i la Font de Santa Teresa (SHS059), les fonts picants proved to be richest in such aspect