Assessment of Groundwater Pollution Potential of the Datong Basin, Northern China

Abstract

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 3pt; line-height: 11pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" lang="EN-US">Groundwater is water present below the surface of the earth in underground streams and aquifers. It is the main source of water supply in arid and semi-arid regions of northwestern China. Studies, in recent years have reported increased cases of aquifer contamination due to different factors such as rapid urbanization and industrialization. Using DRASTIC model, this study attempts </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';" lang="EN-US">to measure vulnerability of ground water to contamination in the Datong Basin, located in Northern China. To reduce subjectivity, a s</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" lang="EN-US">ensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the influence of a single parameter on aquifer vulnerability.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 3pt; line-height: 11pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';" lang="EN-US">The results show that </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" lang="EN-US">32.5% of the total study area is under a “highly vulnerable zone”. In addition the most sensitive parameter to contamination is aquifer media (A), followed in importance by hydraulic conductivity (C), topography (T), depth to water (D), soil media (S), and impact of vadose zone (I). Net recharge (R) is the least sensitive parameter to pollution</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';" lang="EN-US">. </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;" lang="EN-US">Aquifer vulnerability maps developed in this study are valuable tools for environmental planning and predictive groundwater management. </span></span></p

DRASTIC-GIS model for assessing vulnerability to pollution of the phreatic aquiferous formations in Douala–Cameroon

“…Shallow groundwater mainly occurs between 5 and 80 m below the surface (Samake et al, 2010). The depth to water table in the study area ranges from 4 to 46 m which falls within the shallow groundwater zone as described by Samake et al (2010). This makes the area more susceptible to contamination.…”

“…The true depth to water table was calculated by subtracting the value of the water table level from the surface elevation of the well. Shallow groundwater mainly occurs between 5 and 80 m below the surface (Samake et al, 2010). The depth to water table in the study area ranges from 4 to 46 m which falls within the shallow groundwater zone as described by Samake et al (2010).…”

Risk assessment of brine contamination to aquatic resources from energy development in glacial drift deposits: Williston Basin, USA

“…Al-Hanbali and Kondoh, 2008;Samake et al, 2010;Saidi et al, 2011) have documented the inherent subjectivity in selecting values and weights for the different parameters used in vulnerability and risk assessments. Sensitivity analyses are a common technique to evaluate the influence of the values and weights assigned to each parameter and allow the analyst to determine the significance of these subjective elements (Gogu and Dassargues, 2000).…”

Vulnerabilidade e risco de contaminação das águas do Sistema Aquífero Serra Geral na Bacia do Rio do Peixe/SC

“…Existem maneiras diferentes de avaliar a vulnerabilidade intrínseca e os riscos de uma determinada área, as quais podem ser resultado de coletas diretas a campo ou de forma indireta a partir do uso de ferramentas tecnológicas. Samake et al (2010) utilizam o mapeamento da vulnerabilidade para resgatar o potencial de contaminação em aquíferos de meio poroso em áreas de pressão agrícola no Norte da China. Pinheiro, Kosuth e Cernesson (2009) analisaram dados sobre contaminantes associados a pesticidas e seus efeitos na qualidade dos recursos superficiais na bacia do rio Itajaí, Santa Catarina.…”