Title: Assessing groundwater vulnerability based on modified DRASTIC-model and COP-model in arid areas

Authors: Osama Gazal; Saeid Eslamian

Addresses: Environmental and Agricultural Sciences Faculty, Environmental Sciences PhD School, Szent István University, Hungary; Environmental and Climate Change Studies Division, MWI, Jordan ' Department of Water Engineering, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan 8415683111, Iran

Abstract: Groundwater vulnerability models are the most useful tools to simulate the various control factors that govern the surface contamination leaching process towards the aquifers. A study illustrating the significance of vulnerability models in dry areas, in the case of Jordan, and its contribution to groundwater sustainability. DRASTIC-model was performed with two scenarios. Sensitivity tests were applied to modify and examine the original theoretical weights and avoid the subjectivity in ratings and ranges of the parameters. Real parameters weights were calculated for the two scenarios by different methodologies rely on the GIS and using the extracted random points with the values of the seven DRASTIC parameters-maps. Long average and maximum concentrations of nitrate, sulphate, and salinity were used to assess the DRASTIC results since agriculture is the main source of pollution in the area. A comparison between the COP-model and the DRASTIC-model indicates the appropriate use of DRASTIC in arid areas.

Keywords: groundwater vulnerability; agricultural contamination; DRASTIC; COP-model; sustainability; effective weight; sensitivity analyses.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHST.2022.120642

International Journal of Hydrology Science and Technology, 2022 Vol.13 No.2, pp.146 - 190

Received: 31 Oct 2020
Accepted: 09 Dec 2020
Published online: 31 Jan 2022 *

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