Using geospatial technologies to delineate Ground Water Potential Zones (GWPZ) in Mberengwa and Zvishavane District, Zimbabwe

Abstract

The main objective of the study was to delineate Ground Water Potential Zones (GWPZ) in Mberengwa and Zvishavane districts, Zimbabwe, utilizing geospatial technologies and thematic mapping. Various factors, including geology, soil, rainfall, land use/land cover, drainage density, lineament density, slope, Terrain Ruggedness Index (TRI), and Terrain Wetness Index (TWI), were incorporated as thematic layers. The Multi Influencing Factor (MIF) and Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) techniques were employed to assign appropriate weights to these layers based on their relative significance, prioritizing GWPZ mapping. The integration of these weighted layers resulted in the generation of five GWPZ classes: Very high, high, moderate, low, and very low. The MIF method identified 3% of the area as having very high GWPZ, 19% as having high GWPZ, 40% as having moderate GWPZ, 24% as having low GWPZ, and 14% as having very low GWPZ. The AHP method yielded 2% for very high GWPZ, 14% for high GWPZ, 37% for moderate GWPZ, 37% for low GWPZ, and 10% for very low GWPZ. A strong correlation (ρ of 0.91) was observed between the MIF results and groundwater yield. The study successfully identified regions with abundant groundwater, providing valuable target areas for groundwater exploitation and highvolume water harvesting initiatives. Accurate identification of these crucial regions is essential for effective decision-making, planning, and management of groundwater resources to alleviate water shortages.