Water Balance Estimates and Piezometric Level Lowering Based on Numerical Modeling and Remote Sensing Data in the Recife Metropolitan Region—Pernambuco (Brazil)

A more precise definition of groundwater dynamics is an urgent issue for developing reliable plans to assist in the sustainable management of these resources. The combination of remote sensing input data with groundwater flow models emerges as a tool capable of representing these dynamics and simulating important conditions for developing adequate groundwater exploitation plans. These technologies allow for a more detailed and accurate analysis of the interactions between the factors influencing aquifers’ behavior, such as climate variability and anthropogenic pressure on water resources. Thus, the present study aims to develop a numerical model of groundwater flow in the aquifers of the Recife Metropolitan Region, state of Pernambuco, in Brazil, to evaluate the dynamics of these waters and the piezometric level drawdowns between 2004 and 2023. The FREEWAT platform, which applies the MODFLOW-2005 code, was used to simulate the study area. The results showed the entry of seawater into some formations and drawdowns that reached more than 100 m at some points, indicating the urgent need for management strategies to mitigate salinization and preserve the quality of the region’s groundwater resources.