Title: GIS DRASTIC model for groundwater vulnerability estimation of Astaneh-Kouchesfahan Plain, Northern Iran

Authors: Masoud Saatsaz; Wan Nor Azmin Sulaiman; Saeid Eslamian; Kourosh Mohammadi

Addresses: Department of Environmental Science, University Putra of Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. ' Department of Environmental Science, University Putra of Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. ' Department of Water Engineering, Collage of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan 8415683111, Iran. ' Department of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract: In this study, the groundwater vulnerability to pollution was evaluated for Astaneh-Kouchesfahan Plain, Northern Iran using GIS DRASTIC model. Based upon available data, six thematic maps were generated and intrinsic vulnerability map was developed based upon calculations from various mapped layers and DRASTIC index. The results show that low, moderate, high and very high groundwater vulnerability risk zones cover around 12, 52, 28 and 8% of the area, respectively. Finally, in order to verify the model, the categorised DRASTIC map was compared with a categorized TDS map and the results shows that the areas including enhanced values of TDS correspond with those with higher DRASTIC ratings.

Keywords: aquifer vulnerability; DRASTIC; GIS; groundwater pollution; Iran; water pollution; modelling.

DOI: 10.1504/IJW.2011.043313

International Journal of Water, 2011 Vol.6 No.1/2, pp.1 - 14

Published online: 24 Oct 2011 *

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