Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Assessment of groundwater vulnerability in Mettur region, Tamilnadu, India using drastic and GIS techniques

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Arabian Journal of Geosciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A study was carried in Mettur taluk, Salem district of Tamilnadu, India to develop a DRASTIC vulnerability index in GIS environment owing to groundwater pollution with increasing population, industries, and agricultural activities. Seven DRASTIC layers were created from available data (depth to water table, net recharge, aquifer media, soil media, topography, impact of vadose zone, and hydraulic conductivity) and incorporated into DRASTIC model to create a groundwater vulnerability map by overlaying the hydrogeological parameters. The output map indicates southwestern part of the study area with high pollution potential, northern and northwestern parts as moderate pollution potential and northeastern parts as low and no risk of pollution potential. For validating the vulnerability assessment, a total of 46 groundwater samples were collected from different vulnerability zones of the study area for two different seasons (pre- and post-monsoon) and analyzed for major anions and cations. Higher ionic concentrations were noted in wells located near highly industrialized, urbanized, and agricultural active zones. The water types represent Na–Mg–HCO3 and Na–Cl–HCO3 type indicating dominance of anthropogenic-related activities. Nitrate and chloride were demarcated as pollution indicators and correlated with DRASTIC vulnerability map. The results show that southwestern, northwestern, and northern parts of the study area recorded with high and moderate vulnerable zones, record higher nitrate values. In contrast to DRASTIC method predicted, low vulnerable zones show higher chloride concentration may be due to agricultural and urban development.

ملخص

دراسة كان يحمل داخل [متّور] [تلوك], سالم منطقة من [تميلندو], هند أن يطوّر صارمة جروحية فهرسة في [جس] بيرة بسبب ماء جوفيّ تلوث [ويث ينكرسنغ] السّكان, صناعات وأنشطة زراعيّة. خلقت سبعة طبقات صارمة كان من يتوفّر معطيات (عمق أن يروي طاولة, شبكة [رشرج], مستودع جوفيّ أوساط, تربة أوساط, طوبوغرافيّا, تأثير صدمة من [فدوس] منطقة وموصلية هيدروليّة) وأدمجت داخل نموذج صارمة أن يخلق ماء جوفيّ جروحية خريطة ب يطلي المعلمات جيولوجيّ مائيّ. الإنتاج يشير خريطة جزء جنوبيّة غربيّة من الدراسة منطقة مع عال تلوث إحتمال, شماليّة وجزء شماليّة غربيّة كمعتدلة تلوث إحتمال وأجزاء [نورث-سترن] كدنيا وما من خطر من تلوث إحتمال. ل يصدر الجروحية تقييم, جمعت مجموعة من 46 ماء جوفيّ عينات كان من مختلفة جروحية مناطق من الدراسة منطقة لاثنان فصول مختلفة ([بر] وعيّنت ريح موسميّة) وحلّلت لكبريات شاردات وكتيونات. لاحظت تركيزات [هيغر] أيونيّة كان في بئار حدّ قرب جدّا يصنع, مدّد ومناطق زراعيّة نشطة. الماء يمثّل أنواع [ن-مغ-هك]3 و [ن-كل-هك]3 طبعت يشير سيطرة من أنشطة [أنثروبوجنيك] متّصلة . حدّدت نترات وكلوريد كان كتلوث مؤشرات وارتبطت مع صارمة جروحية خريطة. يبدي النتيجات أنّ جنوبيّة غربيّة, شماليّة غربيّة و [نورثرن برت] من الدراسة منطقة يسجّل مع عال ومناطق معتدلة حصينة, سجل [هيغر] نترات قيم. في عقد إلى طريقة صارمة يتنبّأ, منخفضة حصينة مناطق عرض [هيغر] كلوريد تركيز يمكن كنت واجبة إلى زراعيّة

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Al-Adamat RAN, Foster IDL, Baban SMJ (2003) Groundwater vulnerability and risk mapping for the basaltic aquifer of the Azraq Basin of Jordan using GIS, remote sensing and DRASTIC. Appl Geogr 23:303–324

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aller L, Bennet T, Leher JH, Petty RJ, Hackett G (1987) DRASTIC: a standardized system for evaluating ground water pollution potential using hydro-geological settings. EPA 600/2-87-035:622

  • APHA (1995) Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, 19th edn. American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association, and Water Pollution Control Federation, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Babiker IS, Mohamed MA, Hiyama T, Kato K (2005) A GIS-based DRASTIC model for assessing aquifer vulnerability in Kakamigahara Heights, Gifu Prefecture, central Japan. Sci Total Environ 345:127–140

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barbash JE, Resek EA (1996) Pesticides in groundwater: distribution, trends, and governing factors. Ann Arbor

  • Civita MV (1993) Le carte della vulnerabilita ‘degli aquiferi all’ inquinamento (Aquifer pollution vulnerability maps). Teoria and practica. Pitagora, Bologna

    Google Scholar 

  • Corniello A, Ducci D, Napolitano P (1997) Comparison between parametric methods to evaluate aquifer pollution vulnerability using GIS: an example in the “Piana Campana”, southern Italy. In: Marinos PG, Koukis GC, Tsiambaos GC, Stournaras GC (eds) Engineering geology and the environment. Balkema, Rotterdam, pp 1721–1726

    Google Scholar 

  • El Naqa A (2004) Aquifer vulnerability assessment using the DRASTIC model at Russeifa landfill, northeast Jordan. Environ Geol 47:51–62

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans BM, Mayers WL (1990) A GIS-based approach to evaluating regional groundwater pollution potential with DRASTIC. J Soil Water Conserve 45:242–245

    Google Scholar 

  • Farquhar G (1989) Leachate: production and characterization. Can J Civ Eng 16:82–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foster SD (1987) Fundamental concepts in aquifer vulnerability, pollution risk and protection strategy. In: Waegeningh HG, van WV (eds) The hague. Vulnerability of soil and groundwater to pollution 38:69–86

  • Gogu RC, Dassargues A (2000) Current trends and future challenges in groundwater vulnerability assessment using overlay and index methods. Environ Geol 39:549–559

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kasperson JX, Kasperson RE, Turner BL, Schiller A, Hsieh WH (2003) Vulnerability to global environmental change. In: Diekmann A, Dietz T, Jaeger C, Rosa ES (eds) The human dimensions of global environmental change. MIT, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim YJ, Hamm SY (1999) Assessment of the potential for ground water contamination using the DRASTIC/EGIS technique, Cheongju area, South Korea. Hydrogeol J 7:227–235

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loague K, Corwin DL (1998) Regional-scale assessment of non-point source groundwater contamination. Hydrol Process 12:957–965

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Merchant JW (1994) GIS-based groundwater pollution hazard assessment: a critical review of the DRASTIC model. Photogramm Eng Remote Sensing 60(9):1117–1127

    Google Scholar 

  • Murat V, Rivera A, Pouliot J, Miranda-Salas M, Savard MM (2004) Aquifer vulnerability mapping and GIS: a proposal to monitor uncertainty associated with spatial data processing. Geofisica Interncional 43(4):551–565

    Google Scholar 

  • Nakic Z, Bacani A, Vlahovic T (2001) Anthropogenic influence on groundwater of the Strmec well field. Min Geol Pet Eng Mag 13:25–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Napolitano P (1995) GIS for aquifer vulnerability assessment in the Piana Campana, southern Italy, using the DRASTIC and SINTACS methods. Unpublished M.Sc. Thesis, ITC, Enschede, the Netherlands, 172 pp

  • Piscopo G (2001) Groundwater vulnerability map, explanatory notes—Castlereagh catchment. NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation, New South Wales, p 13 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Rahman A (2007) A GIS based model for assessing groundwater vulnerability in shallow aquifer in Algarh, India. Appl Geogr 28(1):32–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shahid S (2000) A study of groundwater pollution vulnerability using DRASTIC/GIS, West Bengal, India. J Environ Hydrol 8:1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Sinan M (2000) Methodology of identification, evaluation and protection of regional aquifers with combined use of GIS, geophysics and geostatistics. Application to the Haouz aquifer of Marrakech, Morocco). Doctorat d’Etat, University Mohamed V and Ecole Mohammadia d’Inge’nieurs, Rabat, Morocco

  • Stigter TY, Ribeiro L, Dill AMMC (2006) Evaluation of an intrinsic and a specific vulnerability assessment method in comparison with groundwater salinisation and nitrate contamination levels in two agricultural regions in the south of Portugal. Hydrogeol J 14:79–99

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tesoriero AJ, Inkpen EL, Voss FD (1998) Assessing ground-water vulnerability using logistic regression. In: Proc Source Water Assessment and Protection 98 Conf, Dallas, TX, pp 157–165

  • Thapinta A, Hudak PF (2003) Use of geographic information systems for assessing groundwater pollution potential by pesticides in Central Thailand. Environ Int 29:87–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thirumalaivasan D, Karmegam M, Venugopal K (2003) AHP-DRASTIC: software for specific aquifer vulnerability assessment using DRASTIC model and GIS. Environ Model Softw 18:645–656

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vias JM, Andreo B, Perles MJ, Carrasco F (2005) A comparative study of four schemes for groundwater vulnerability mapping in a diffuse flow carbonate aquifer under Mediterranean climatic conditions. Environ Geol 47(4):586–595

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vrba J, Zaporozec A (1994) Guidebook on mapping groundwater vulnerability. Int Contrib Hydrogeol Nr. 16, Hannover

Download references

Acknowledgments

The corresponding author acknowledges the financial support of the Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi, India under the Young scientist scheme grant number SR/FTP/ES-49/2006 dtd.13.08.2007. Thanks also to the anonymous reviewer for his constructive comments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar, 608 002, India

    K. Srinivasamoorthy, K. Vijayaraghavan, M. Vasanthavigar, R. Rajivgandhi, S. Chidambaram, P. Anandhan & R. Manivannan

  2. National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, 500 606, India

    V. S. Sarma

Authors
  1. K. Srinivasamoorthy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. K. Vijayaraghavan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Vasanthavigar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. V. S. Sarma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. R. Rajivgandhi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. S. Chidambaram
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. P. Anandhan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. R. Manivannan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to K. Srinivasamoorthy.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Srinivasamoorthy, K., Vijayaraghavan, K., Vasanthavigar, M. et al. Assessment of groundwater vulnerability in Mettur region, Tamilnadu, India using drastic and GIS techniques. Arab J Geosci 4, 1215–1228 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-010-0138-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-010-0138-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation