Determination of Groundwater Protection Zones of the Pozharan Wellfield Using Hydrogeological Modflow Model

Abstract

This article concerns the calculation of the Groundwater Protection Zones (GWPZ) of the Pozharan/Požaranje wellfield. It shows the methodology of delineating water source protection zones with a hydrogeological computer model and serves as an example for further work in this field. The wellfield is located in the southeastern part of Kosovo, about 1 km west of Viti/Vitia and is an important water supply source for the neighboring villages. The wellfield is located 35 km southeast of Prishtina/Priština, the capital city of Kosovo. A total of four public water production wells have been drilled into the aquifer for which the protection zones will be calculated. In order to delineate the Groundwater Protection Zones according to the Kosovar regulations, a groundwater model was set up to calculate the groundwater flow in the well field. Data has to be collected to create such a model. With help of previous studies and own investigations, the aquifer was identified. A large part of the work is finding observation wells (piezometers) in the study area and measuring its height and groundwater level. Afterwards, the model was calibrated. The model is capable of calculating flow paths and by means of particle tracking, it is possible to visualize where the water comes from. Adding the speed of groundwater flow, the time dependent zones can be drawn. Finally, the three protection zones were described as well as the proposed land use restrictions and the recommendations for land use planning were described. Several hazards to groundwater were identified and described inside those zones.

Numerical Modeling and Simulation of the Effectiveness of Groundwater Source Protection Management Plans: Riverbank Filtration Case Study in Serbia

“…A study was conducted in Morocco on the groundwater source protection zoning, based on the MODFLOW and MODPATH models [28]. MODFLOW was also used for the protection zoning of a groundwater source in Požaranje, Kosovo [29]. For the Njafabad aquifer in Iran, a MODFLOW and WhAEM model were constructed to delineate protection zones for 2.5 and 10 years [30].…”

The Zonality of Underground Water Supply Sources for Pastures in the West Kazakhstan Region

“…Research and analysis of data on groundwater levels with gaps involve the creation of a time forecast model per groundwater levels for various regimes and types of groundwater [Tymkiv and Kasiyanchuk, 2019]. For groundwater in the territory of Kosovo, the groundwater level was monitored and a hydrogeological computer model designed to determine the source protection zones was created [Osmanaj et al, 2021]. Data on the assessment and mapping of groundwater quality for water supply and drinking in the semi-arid region of Algeria show the characteristics of water quality indices based on hydrochemical analysis data [Azlaoui et al, 2021].…”