A GIS-Based Comparative Groundwater Vulnerability Assessment Using Modified-DRASTIC, Modified-SINTACS and NV Index in a Porous Aquifer, Greece

Groundwater vulnerability assessment is of pivotal importance for the sustainable management of groundwater resources, particularly in regions with intense agricultural activity. This research primarily aims to assess and delineate groundwater vulnerability zones using a comparative approach of thre...

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Published inEnvironments (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 10; no. 6; p. 95
Main Authors Kirlas, Marios C., Karpouzos, Dimitrios K., Georgiou, Pantazis E., Theodossiou, Nicolaos
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Basel MDPI AG 01.06.2023
Subjects
Agricultural research
Agriculture
Aquifers
Climate
Environmental aspects
Geology
GIS
Groundwater
groundwater vulnerability assessment
Hydrogeology
Land use
Mathematical models
Methods
modified DRASTIC
modified SINTACS
nitrate
Nitrates
NV index
Parameter sensitivity
Pesticides
Regions
Sediments
Sensitivity analysis
Spatial distribution
Subjectivity
Surface water
Sustainability management
Topography
Water resources
Water sampling
Water, Underground
Greece
Italy
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Summary:Groundwater vulnerability assessment is of pivotal importance for the sustainable management of groundwater resources, particularly in regions with intense agricultural activity. This research primarily aims to assess and delineate groundwater vulnerability zones using a comparative approach of three different GIS-based modified models, namely Pesticide DRASTIC-LU, Nitrate SINTACS-LU and Nitrate NV index. For this reason, eight hydrogeological parameters were employed to analyze the spatial distribution of groundwater vulnerability in the Nea Moudania aquifer, Chalkidiki, Greece. This multi-model methodology was implemented to ascertain the most reliable method for the study area. Results indicated that the southern and southwestern parts of the study area exhibited the highest vulnerability potential, whilst the northern part displayed the lowest. Moreover, single-parameter sensitivity analysis has revealed that land use and topography were the most critical parameters of the vulnerability indexes, whereas hydraulic conductivity was the least influential. Finally, the three vulnerability models were validated with nitrate concentrations of groundwater samples. Results revealed that the Nitrate NV index was the most accurate method, trailed by the Pesticide DRASTIC-LU and the Nitrate SINTACS-LU.
ISSN:2076-3298
2076-3298
DOI:10.3390/environments10060095