scholarly journals First Application of the Integrated Karst Aquifer Vulnerability (IKAV) method. Potential and Actual vulnerability in Yucatan, Mexico

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Moreno-Gómez ◽  
Carolina Martínez-Salvador ◽  
Rudolf Lied ◽  
Catalin Stefan ◽  
Julia Pacheco

Abstract. Groundwater vulnerability maps are important decision support tools for water resources protection against pollution and helpful to minimize environmental damage. However, these tools carry a high subjectivity along the multiple steps taken for the development of such maps. Additionally, the theoretical models on which they are based do not consider important parameters such as pollutant concentration or pollutant residence time in a given section of the aquifer, solely focusing the analysis on a theoretical travel time from a release point towards a target. In this work, an integrated methodology for the evaluation of potential (intrinsic) and actual vulnerability is presented. This integrated method, named IKAV, was developed after the analysis of several study cases and the application of multiple intrinsic groundwater vulnerability methods in a selected study area. Also, a solute transport model served as the basis to define additional parameters for vulnerability analysis for areas severely affected by anthropogenic practices. A defined workflow and several criteria for parameters and attributes selection, rating and weighting assignment, and vulnerability classification are presented. The first application of the IKAV method was carried out in the Yucatan karst, demonstrating to be a reliable method for vulnerability estimation. Results demonstrated the scope of the IKAV method to highlight important regional conditions, minimizing the subjectivity, and expanding the analysis of vulnerability.

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolina Martínez-Salvador ◽  
Miguel Moreno-Gómez ◽  
Rudolf Liedl

Karst aquifers are a major source of drinking water with intrinsic features that increase the pollution risk from anthropogenic and natural impacts. In Yucatan, Mexico, groundwater is the sole source of drinking water, also acting as receptor of untreated wastewater due to the low regional coverage of sewer systems. To protect karst groundwater, vulnerability methodologies are widely used. Worldwide, multiple karst vulnerability schemes have been developed and tested; however, none of these consider pollutant residence time or pollutant concentration as core parameters to estimate vulnerability. This work aims to define important considerations regarding the behavior of nitrates (NO3) in a real scenario, to be included in a new integrated vulnerability method. This work has two main objectives: to set up a groundwater model to depict as close as possible the groundwater behavior of the Yucatan karst system, and to introduce a transport model to estimate the behavior of a pollution plume. Model outcomes suggest that pollutants have a short residence time, reaching the coast in the north after 3 years. Well fields are also affected by pollution at variable NO3 concentrations. Results can be further discretized to establish a base and to include these parameters as part of a new integrated groundwater vulnerability approach.


Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1610 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moreno-Gómez ◽  
Martínez-Salvador ◽  
Moulahoum ◽  
Liedl ◽  
Stefan ◽  
...  

Karst groundwater vulnerability maps are important tools for the development of groundwater management and protection strategies. However, current methodologies do not always match regional characteristics and parameter adaptations are necessary. In addition, other important processes such as dilution and aquifer residence time are not included in vulnerability analysis for the complications of evaluating two or more criteria simultaneously. The integrated karst aquifer vulnerability approach (IKAV) project aims to develop an integrated approach to include these parameters and estimate global change implications in current and future scenarios. As a first step, intrinsic vulnerability methodologies are studied in order to highlight important parameters and the congruence with regional characteristics of the Yucatan karst. Results demonstrate agreement between methods for the evaluation of high and very high vulnerabilities and their relation with fissures and dolines. Moderate vulnerabilities are assigned to more than 50% of the area. However, moderate vulnerabilities, assigned to the coastal area and the Southern hill, are highly questionable. Intrinsic features affecting moderate classes vary according to the method. Parameter sensitivity analysis and overlap analysis demonstrate the influence of depth to the unsaturated zone, soils, precipitation, and slope on moderate values. Therefore, such parameters must be re-evaluated and discretized according to the characteristics of the study area to match Yucatan regional characteristics.


2013 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cátia Marisa Fraga ◽  
Luís Filipe Sanches Fernandes ◽  
Fernando António Leal Pacheco ◽  
Cristina Reis ◽  
João Paulo Moura

Two simple methods of aquifer vulnerability assessment were used in this study: the GOD and AVI methods. The main purpose was to appraise their faithfulness as exploratory techniques, and their applicability to the scale of a small watershed. The study area was the Sordo River Basin (area: 50 km2), located in the Northeast of Portugal. To measure accuracy, model results were compared with vulnerability maps previously obtained for the basin, but using the standard DRASTIC model. Results of the GOD method were a map dominated by class "low vulnerability" where parameter O (overlying strata) imprinted its signature, very similar to the DRASTIC map but with smaller resolution. The method was considered valuable for exploration of primary factors of aquifer vulnerability (e.g. discrimination between water table and confined aquifers) but not for description of secondary factors (e.g. nuances in the degree of confinement). The application of the AVI method was proven inefficient because the resulting map indicated the presence of a single unrealistic class ("extremely high vulnerability"). The reason was that AVI results are evaluated on a logarithmic scale, which is appropriate for studies at regional scales where the settings are very diverse, but inappropriate for studies on the small watershed scale.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Malakootian ◽  
Majid Nozari

Abstract. The present study estimates Kerman–Baghin aquifer vulnerability by applying the DRASTIC and composite DRASTIC (CDRASTIC) indexes. The factors affecting the transfer of contamination, including the water table depth, soil media, aquifer media, the impact of the vadose zone, topography, hydraulic conductivity, and land use, were ranked, weighted, and integrated using a geographical information system (GIS). A sensitivity test has also been performed to specify the sensitivity of the parameters. The study results show that the topographic layer displays a gentle slope in the aquifer. The majority of the aquifer covered irrigated field crops and grassland with a moderate vegetation cover. In addition, the aquifer vulnerability maps indicate very similar results, recognizing the northwest parts of the aquifer as areas with high and very high vulnerability. The map removal sensibility analysis (MRSA) revealed the impact of the vadose zone (in the DRASTIC index) and hydraulic conductivity (in the CDRASTIC index) as the most effective parameters in the vulnerability evaluation. In both indexes, the single-parameter sensibility analysis (SPSA) showed net recharge as the most effective factor in the vulnerability estimation. From this study, it can be concluded that vulnerability maps can be used as a tool to control human activities for the sustained protection of aquifers.


2007 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. V. Civita ◽  
M. De Maio ◽  
A. Fiorucci

In the early 1980's the Italian scientific community, together with a number of institutional decision-makers, realized how urgent it was to protect natural and environmental resources. They agreed that an adequate level of scientifically organized knowledge allows the accurate planning and development of environmental systems through management and direction of the actual development process, without hindering it. Since the special project was first set up in 1984, as part of the GNDCI-CNR (National Group for the Defence against Hydrogeologic Disasters, of the Italian National Council of Research) scientific context, it has been the cardinal point of Research Line 4 “Assessment of Aquifer Vulnerability”. The problem of groundwater contamination was examined in this project for the very first time in Italy in an organic and extensive manner as a key for forecasting and prevention purposes. The Italian approaches to assessing and mapping groundwater vulnerability to contamination are essentially based on two main methodologies:- The GNDCI Basic Method a HCS (Hazard Contamination Source) type approach that can be used for any type of Italian hydrogeologic situation, even where there is a limited amount of data. A unified legend and symbols are also defined for each hydrogeologic level.- The SINTACS [Soggiacenza (depth to groundwater); Infiltrazione (effective infiltration); Non saturo (unsaturated zone attenuation capacity); Tipologia della copertura (soil/overburden attenuation capacity); Acquifero (saturated zone characteristics); Conducibilità (hydraulic conductivity); Superficie topografica (Slope)] method, a PCSM (Point Count System Model) developed for use prevalently in areas with good data base coverage. The methodological approaches described in this paper now make up the Italian standard which has been set in the recent very important Italian Law (152/99) and which has now been ratified in the national guidelines produced by ANPA, the Italian National Agency for Environment Protection. In this paper the structure of the Research Line, the progress obtained by the 21 Research units (over 100 researchers) in 20 years of activity, the results gained etc. are briefly highlighted.


Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 1288
Author(s):  
Husam Musa Baalousha ◽  
Bassam Tawabini ◽  
Thomas D. Seers

Vulnerability maps are useful for groundwater protection, water resources development, and land use management. The literature contains various approaches for intrinsic vulnerability assessment, and they mainly depend on hydrogeological settings and anthropogenic impacts. Most methods assign certain ratings and weights to each contributing factor to groundwater vulnerability. Fuzzy logic (FL) is an alternative artificial intelligence tool for overlay analysis, where spatial properties are fuzzified. Unlike the specific rating used in the weighted overlay-based vulnerability mapping methods, FL allows more flexibility through assigning a degree of contribution without specific boundaries for various classes. This study compares the results of DRASTIC vulnerability approach with the FL approach, applying both on Qatar aquifers. The comparison was checked and validated against a numerical model developed for the same study area, and the actual anthropogenic contamination load. Results show some similarities and differences between both approaches. While the coastal areas fall in the same category of high vulnerability in both cases, the FL approach shows greater variability than the DRASTIC approach and better matches with model results and contamination load. FL is probably better suited for vulnerability assessment than the weighted overlay methods.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nyakno Jimmy George

AbstractAVI (Aquifer vulnerability index), GOD (groundwater occurrence, overlying lithology and depth to the aquifer), GLSI (geo-electric layer susceptibility indexing) and S (longitudinal unit conductance) models were used to assess economically exploitable groundwater resource in the coastal environment of Akwa Ibom State, southern Nigeria. The models were employed in order to delineate groundwater into its category of vulnerability to contamination sources using the first- and second-order geo-electric indices as well as hydrogeological inputs. Vertical electrical sounding technique employing Schlumberger electrode configuration was carried out in 16 locations, close to logged boreholes with known aquifer core samples. Primary or first-order geo-electric indices (resistivity, thickness and depth) measured were used to determine S. The estimated aquifer hydraulic conductivity, K, calculated from grain size diameter and water resistivity values were used to calculate hydraulic resistance (C) used to estimate AVI. With the indices assigned to geo-electric parameters on the basis of their influences, GOD and FSLI were calculated using appropriate equations. The geologic sequence in the study area consists of geo-electric layers ranging from motley topsoil, argillites (clayey to fine sands) and arenites (medium to gravelly sands). Geo-electric parametric indices of aquifer overlying layers across the survey area were utilized to weigh the vulnerability of the underlying water-bearing resource to the contaminations from surface and near-surface, using vulnerability maps created. Geo-electrically derived model maps reflecting AVI, BOD, FLSI and S were compared to assess their conformity to the degree of predictability of groundwater vulnerability. The AVI model map shows range of values of log C ( −3.46—0.07) generally less than unity and hence indicating high vulnerability. GOD model tomographic map displays a range of 0.1–0.3, indicating that the aquifer with depth range of 20.5 to 113.1 m or mean depth of 72. 3 m is lowly susceptible to surface and near-surface impurities. Again, the FLSI map displays a range of FLSI index of 1.25 to 2.75, alluding that the aquifer underlying the protective layer has a low to moderate vulnerability. The S model has values ranging from 0.013 to 0.991S. As the map indicates, a fractional portion of the aquifer at the western (Ikot Abasi) part of the study area has moderate to good protection (moderate vulnerability) while weak to poor aquifer protection (high vulnerability) has poor protection. The S model in this analysis seems to overstate the degree of susceptibility to contamination than the AVI, GOD and GLSI models. From the models, the categorization of severity of aquifer vulnerability to contaminations is relatively location-dependent and can be assessed through the model tomographic maps generated.


Author(s):  
Stefania Stevenazzi ◽  
Marco Masetti ◽  
Giovanni Pietro Beretta

Groundwater is among the most important freshwater resources. Worldwide, aquifers are experiencing an increasing threat of pollution from urbanization, industrial development, agricultural activities and mining enterprise. Thus, practical actions, strategies and solutions to protect groundwater from these anthropogenic sources are widely required. The most efficient tool, which helps supporting land use planning, while protecting groundwater from contamination, is represented by groundwater vulnerability assessment. Over the years, several methods assessing groundwater vulnerability have been developed: overlay and index methods, statistical and process-based methods. All methods are means to synthesize complex hydrogeological information into a unique document, which is a groundwater vulnerability map, useable by planners, decision and policy makers, geoscientists and the public. Although it is not possible to identify an approach which could be the best one for all situations, the final product should always be scientific defensible, meaningful and reliable. Nevertheless, various methods may produce very different results at any given site. Thus, reasons for similarities and differences need to be deeply investigated. This study demonstrates the reliability and flexibility of a spatial statistical method to assess groundwater vulnerability to contamination at a regional scale. The Lombardy Plain case study is particularly interesting for its long history of groundwater monitoring (quality and quantity), availability of hydrogeological data, and combined presence of various anthropogenic sources of contamination. Recent updates of the regional water protection plan have raised the necessity of realizing more flexible, reliable and accurate groundwater vulnerability maps. A comparison of groundwater vulnerability maps obtained through different approaches and developed in a time span of several years has demonstrated the relevance of the continuous scientific progress, recognizing strengths and weaknesses of each research.


2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 784-792 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nastaran Khodabakhshi ◽  
Gholamreza Asadollahfardi ◽  
Nima Heidarzadeh

Pollution control and removal of pollutants from groundwater are a challenging and expensive task. The aims of this paper are to determine the aquifer vulnerability of Sefid-Dasht, in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, Iran, using the DRASTIC model. In addition, the groundwater quality index (GQI) technique was applied to assess the groundwater quality and study the spatial variability of major ion concentrations using a geographic information system (GIS). The vulnerability index ranged from 65 to 132, classified into two classes: low and moderate vulnerability. In the southern part of the aquifer, the vulnerability was moderate. Furthermore, the results indicate that the magnitude of the GQI index varies from 92% to 95%. This means the water has a suitable quality. However, from the north to the south and southwest of the aquifer, the water quality has been deteriorating, and the highest concentration of major ions was found in the southwest of the Sefid-Dasht aquifer. A comparison of the vulnerability maps with the GQI index map indicated a poor relation between them. In the DRASTIC method, movement of groundwater is not considered and may be the reason for such inconsistency. However, the movement of groundwater can transport contaminants.


2020 ◽  
Vol 53 (2E) ◽  
pp. 12-24
Author(s):  
Madyan Al-Gburi

Several studies and assessments have been conducted of areas exposed to pollution, especially areas that contain aquifer. The final extraction of the vulnerability map of the groundwater was constructed through the use of the DRASTIC method by applying the linear equation of the seven coefficients in the Arc GIS software program (Version 10.4). The aim of the study to assess aquifer vulnerability to pollution. Results, vulnerability map range between 75-126 (very low, low, and medium), the study area consists of very low and low vulnerability, except some areas medium vulnerability close to the center of the sub-basin in the standard vulnerability map (s) and 91-149 (very low, low, and medium) for the agriculture or pesticide vulnerability map (p), the medium vulnerability occupies a greater area the center of the sub-basin.


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