Title : Impact assessment of karst ecosystems, particularly cenotes located in Peri-urban areas
Abstract:
Karst sinkholes (cenotes) are critical socio-ecological systems of the Yucatán Peninsula, providing essential ecosystem services such as freshwater supply, biodiversity support, and hydrological regulation. In recent decades, rapid and poorly planned peri-urban expansion in the Mexican Caribbean has intensified anthropogenic pressures on these fragile environments, particularly in the municipality of Benito Juárez, Quintana Roo. This study presents an integrated assessment of water quality in peri-urban cenotes located in regions 225, 230, 235, 523, and 524, with the objective of evaluating physicochemical and microbiological degradation patterns and elucidating their relationship with urban growth dynamics.
A multiparametric and spatially explicit framework was applied to generate high- resolution baseline information for sustainable management and restoration planning. Sampling sites were selected through a multicriteria analysis incorporating population density, land-use patterns, proximity to potential contamination sources, and logistical accessibility. Cenote locations were determined using satellite geopositioning, and water sampling followed NOM-014-CONAGUA-2003 guidelines and EPA (2017) protocols. Laboratory analyses included fats and oils, suspended solids, dissolved solids, total solids, pH, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, and microbiological indicators (total coliforms and Escherichia coli). Spatial analysis using a Geographic Information System (GIS) and multivariate regression techniques was employed to explore interactions between water quality variables and anthropogenic factors.
Results indicate severe degradation of water quality, with fats and oils (45–54 mg/L), suspended solids (224.5–345.6 mg/L), dissolved solids (1,230–4,340 mg/L), and total solids (1,785–3,670 mg/L) consistently exceeding the regulatory thresholds established by NOM-001-SEMARNAT-2021, particularly in highly urbanized regions. Although pH, dissolved oxygen, and electrical conductivity remained within permissible limits, their coexistence with elevated solid loads suggests progressive physicochemical alteration and increasing ecological stress.
These findings reveal the pronounced hydrogeological vulnerability of peri-urban cenotes under conditions of infrastructure deficit and unregulated urban expansion. The study underscores the need for integrated monitoring systems, land-use planning, and evidence-based environmental governance to protect karst aquifers, enhance ecosystem resilience, and ensure long-term water security for rapidly growing urban communities, in line with the sustainability and human–environment focus.
Keywords: karst ecosystems; cenotes; peri-urban environments; water quality assessment; GIS-based analysis; sustainable water management.
