Vulnerability to groundwater contamination, SW salamanca, Spain

Abstract

This work assesses the vulnerability of groundwater to pollution in a zone characterized by fissured aquifers. Information from the area was analysed using a geographic information systems to determine a series of key parameters: depth to the water table, net recharge, aquifer-averaged characteristics, soil-averaged characteristics, topography, impact of the unsaturated zone and hydraulic conductivity. Parameter maps are used to calculate five different vulnerability degrees in the area. Finally, the potential environmental impacts of human activities are analysed using the vulnerability map. This method provides a straightforward, economic and useful framework that can be utilized during the early stages of regional planning to assess the impacts of human activities.