Volcanic Dikes Engineering Properties for Storing and Regulation of the Underground Water Resources in Volcanic Islands

The main feature of aquifers in volcanic islands with high rainfall rates and steep topography is that they are on raised, mainly due to the presence of volcanic dikes. Dikes are igneous bodies with very high aspect ratio, which means that their thickness is usually much smaller than the other two dimensions and tend to be vertical or of high dip angle. It can be considered as impermeable and interconnected walls where aquifers, which are recharged by rain, raise the water table between the dikes. This is especially important in volcanic rift zones. The method to obtain water in these volcanic areas involves digging horizontal galleries with explosives. The galleries cross the dikes and drain the water from the water saturated area. The main problem of this type of perforation is to obtain the water continually, without the possibility of water regulation. This question has been solved by means of the reconstruction of several technically viable dikes, to enable the store of water resources through channels in order to regulate the water wealth of the built galleries. Methods, results and viability on the use of the volcanic materials as relevant works of civil engineering highlights on the following paper.