Assessing vulnerability of groundwater with god model : a case study in Oran Sebkha basin-Algeria

Abstract EN

The vulnerability of groundwater is a relative, non-measurable and dimensionless property, which is based on the concept that some land areas are more vulnerable to groundwater contamination than others.

Most groundwater vulnerability modeling has been based on current hydrogeology and land use conditions.

However, groundwater vulnerability is strongly dependent on factors such as depth to water, recharge and land use conditions that may change in response to future changes in climate and/or socio-economic conditions.

The evaluation of the aquifer vulnerability is one of the tools supporting decision making related to aquifer protection.

This study is a help approach to protect and prevent pollution of the Oran Sebkha basin.

It discusses the creation of a groundwater vulnerability map.

This area of the aquifer is essentially occupied by agricultural areas characterized by an important use of chemical fertilizers, which are in addition to the discharge of industrial zones.

The water resources are becoming increasingly scarce, over-exploited, poorly distributed and most especially polluted.

Information on the hydraulic confinement, overlying strata in terms of their lithological character and depth to groundwater table that is affect and control groundwater contamination were incorporated into the GOD model, to produce groundwater vulnerability maps.

The final map shows interesting results and stresses the need for the GIS to test and improve on the groundwater contamination risk assessment method.

It was found that the studied water is characterized by a low to very high degree of vulnerability.

A moderate vulnerability in area covering 71.5 % of the extension of the shallow aquifer.