Authors : Telesphore Kabera and Luo Zhaohui
Abstract: Long-term population growth and economic development is placing ever-increasing demands on all natural resources in China. The stress on water in different regions is heavy and groundwater has become an important resource for use in water-supply and irrigation. The main objective of this study is to find out the groundwater vulnerable zones in Yuncheng basin using DRASTIC model. This model is based on seven data layers that provide the input to the modeling. It corresponds to the initials of seven layers: depth of water, net recharge, aquifer media, soil media, topography, impact of vadose zone and hydraulic Conductivity. Geographical Information System (GIS) was used to create a groundwater vulnerability map by overlaying the available hydrogeological data. The final DRASTIC index indicated that Yuncheng basin area is divided in 3 different vulnerable zones namely high, moderate and low vulnerable zones. The sensitivity analysis showed that once depth to water, aquifer media and impact of vadose zone parameters are removed there was a decrease in vulnerability but when net recharge, soil media, topography and hydraulic conductivity parameters are removed the vulnerability increased. The study suggests that the authorities that are responsible for managing groundwater resources at this basin should frequently monitor the zone under high vulnerability in order to monitor the changing level of pollutants.
Telesphore Kabera and Luo Zhaohui , 2008. A GIS Based DRASTIC Model for Assessing Groundwater in Shallow Aquifer in Yuncheng Basin, Shanxi, China. Research Journal of Applied Sciences, 3: 195-205.