Mapping groundwater vulnerable zones using modified DRASTIC approach of an alluvial aquifer in parts of central Ganga plain, Western Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

A detailed hydrogeological and hydrochemical study was carried out in Yamuna-Krishni sub-basin which is a part of the vast central Ganga plain. Groundwater is the major source of water supply for agricultural, domestic and industrial uses. The excess use of groundwater has resulted in depletion of water levels. The groundwater quality, too, has deteriorated in areas dominated by industrial activity. This has led to the preparation of a groundwater vulnerability map in relation to contamination. Groundwater vulnerability maps are valuable derivative maps that show, quantitatively or qualitatively, certain characteristics of the sub-surface environment that determine vulnerability of groundwater to contamination. The modified DRASTIC method was used to prepare vulnerability map. The parameters like depth to water, net recharge, aquifer media, soil media, impact of vadose zone, hydraulic conductivity and land use pattern, owing to its bearing on groundwater regime, were considered to prepare vulnerability map. The vulnerability index is computed as the sum of the products of weight and rating assigned to each of the input considered as above. The vulnerability index ranges from 140 to 180, and is classified into four classes i.e. 140-150, 150-160, 160-170 and 170-180 corresponding to low, medium, high and very high vulnerability zones respectively. Using this index, a groundwater vulnerability potential map was generated which shows that 7%, 40% and 53% of the study area falls in low, medium and high to very high vulnerability zones respectively. The map, thus generated, can be used as a tool for protection and management of aquifers from contamination.

A modified-DRASTIC model (DRASTICA) for assessment of groundwater vulnerability to pollution in an urbanized environment in Lucknow, India

“…Khan et al (2010) assessed the groundwater vulnerability in parts of Indo-Gangetic Plains and observed that quality and quantity of shallow aquifers to a large extent were governed by land use patterns. Umar et al (2009) generated aquifer vulnerability potential map of an alluvial aquifer in parts of Central Ganga Plain, Western Uttar Pradesh using DRASTIC approach which showed that 7, 40 and 53 % of the study area falls in low, medium and high to very high vulnerable zones, respectively. Rahman (2008) delineated groundwater vulnerable zones in shallow aquifers in Aligarh and surrounding areas.…”

A supervised committee machine artificial intelligent for improving DRASTIC method to assess groundwater contamination risk: a case study from Tabriz plain aquifer, Iran

“…Identification of highly susceptible areas is a first and necessary step toward preventing groundwater pollution. This will allow a given region to be classified into sub-regions in terms of their vulnerability intensity and relevant measures to be designed that will prevent pollution from reaching vulnerable areas (Mohammadi et al 2009;Umar et al 2009;Rezaei et al 2013). In this context, the inclusion of vulnerability maps in groundwater quality protection plans would be beneficial, along with the discussion of groundwater contamination risk with stakeholders that include politicians, entrepreneurs, opinion makers, general public (Valle Junior et al 2015).…”

A GIS based DRASTIC model for assessing groundwater vulnerability of Katri Watershed, Dhanbad, India

“…It has a significant impact on the amount of recharge water which can infiltrate into the ground and hence, influence the ability of a contaminant to move vertically into the vadose zone (Umar et al 2009). There are six types of soil present in the study area such as genteelly loamy, coarse loamy, very genteelly slopping loamy, fine loamy, fine soil with loamy surface texture and moderate erosion, fine loamy soil on very genteelly slopping land with loamy surface texture.…”

“…GIS can be useful for taking quick decisions as graphical representation would be easy to take a policy decision by the makers (Singh et al 2013b). GIS techniques have been becoming the most commonly used platform for assessment of groundwater vulnerability (Al-Adamat et al 2003;Becker 2006;Almasri 2008;Rahman 2008;Umar et al 2009;Saha and Alam 2014;Nasri et al 2015) along with the use of remote sensing techniques (Yeh et al 2006), statistical method (Burkart et al 1999;Fred et al 2002), environmental isotope and water chemistry method (Sadek and El-Samie 2001), and fuzzy mathematical method (Zhou et al 2010). The aim of the study is proper understanding of the aquifer system and hydro-geological setting of the area for development and safe exploitation of groundwater.…”