Abstract
Water isotope analyses can be used as tracers in water resource
sustainability, forensics (e.g. human, ecological, food authenticity and
provenance) and climate research, however, limited research has been
conducted on water in Mexico. This first national-level tap water survey
of coupled H-O isotope ratios is reported from over 50 cities and towns
across Mexico. Tap water across the country records a range of 82.4‰ for
δ2H and 12.0‰ for δ18O, analyzed using a Picarro L2130-i analyzer. The
isotopic values show strong relationships (r > 0.5) with
the geography as well as some social and socioeconomic parameters. A
Geographic Information System approach is used to develop maps of
predicted tap water isotope ratios (isoscapes) for Mexico. These
isoscapes will be useful to researchers interested in human-hydrological
systems as well as forensic scientists establishing the region of origin
or the travel history recorded by human remains.