Description of the availability of hydrological and hydrogeological information on wells in the Zarati River sub-basin

Groundwater is an essential source of fresh water, and its sustainable use is necessary for its preservation. Within the National Water Security Plan of Panama, the Arco Seco is one of the most critical regions, given its vulnerability to climate change and intensive groundwater use. Although this region has numerous drilled wells, few of them have good hydrological and/or hydrogeological records. This situation is one of the first challenges that studies seeking to contribute to improving integrated water resource management face. This research aims to elaborate a database that consolidates existing information on wells managed by national institutions such as IDAAN, MIDA, MiAMBIENTE, and MINSA in the Zarati river sub-basin. The review of existing data included a bibliographic search and field campaigns. As a result, 54 variables associated with the study of groundwater and 237 wells were identified. This database allowed us to make a descriptive statistical analysis of the hydrological and hydrogeological information available. It was found that MiAMBIENTE has better records in terms of water use, lithological information, well depth, and physical parameters.