Assessment of intrinsic aquifer vulnerability at continental scale through a critical application of the drastic framework: The case of South America

Rama, Fabrizio; Busico, Gianluigi; Arumí, José Luis; Kazakis, Narantzis; Colombani, Nicolò; Marfella, Luigi; Hirata, Ricardo; Kruse, Eduardo Emilio; Sweeney, Paul; Mastrocicco, Micòl

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153748

Cited by 31 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 92 publications

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“…The DRASTIC method was applied for calculating the pollution vulnerability index (Iv), and it is based on the seven parameters overlapping to represent the hydrological conditions of an interest area [7]. This method was developed by Aller et al [38] for the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).…”

Section: Drastic Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, the main surface water sources in different country regions are deteriorating due to high-impact human activities such as agriculture [3], illegal mining [4,5] and domestic and industrial wastewater discharges [6]. Therefore, groundwater is an essential resource that may satisfy the water supply demand in areas where both surface water quality and quantity are deficient [7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In South America, research about the vulnerability of aquifers has been conducted in Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and Chile. In these countries, the vulnerability studies have led to the categorization of the areas with the highest contamination risk, providing enough information for the creation of contamination prevention strategies and groundwater resource sustainable management guidelines [7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Risk Assessment of Groundwater Contamination in the Gala, Tenguel, and Siete River Basins, Ponce Enriquez Mining Area—Ecuador

et al. 2022

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Groundwater is a strategic resource, which is experiencing a growing threat of contamination worldwide. This study aimed to assess the vulnerability of the groundwaters in the basins of the rivers Gala, Tenguel, and Siete in the Ponce Enriquez mining area, considering as a hypothesis that anthropogenic activities (mainly mining and agricultural) conducted in the area generate a high risk of contamination. Vulnerability to contamination was quantified using the DRASTIC and GOD methods. In addition, the risk of contamination (Rc) was calculated considering the vulnerability index (IV) and the danger index (IP). Geographic information system (GIS) environment was used for the spatial analysis and the generation of vulnerability maps. The DRASTIC method showed that the negligible-to-low vulnerability category was predominant (50.7% of the area), followed by moderate vulnerability (25.6%), and high-to-extreme vulnerability (23.7%). Regarding the GOD method, the low and medium vulnerability categories were predominant in 41.4% and 27.5% of the area, respectively. Both methods agree that the center area, where the mining activities are located, has a vulnerability ranging from negligible to moderate. The IP was low in the eastern zone (58.7 km2) and ranged from moderate (426.2 km2) to high in the central and western zones (371.1 km2), where mining activities predominate. The RC revealed that 20% of the study area corresponded to a high contamination index; from which, 87% comes from agricultural activities, 9% from mining activities, and 4% due to shrimp farms and urban areas. This is the first study that evaluates the vulnerability to the contamination of groundwater in a mining area of Ecuador. The results of this research can serve as a baseline for future research, since the methodology used provides information on the priority areas for the protection of aquifers, considering the current land use in the study area.

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Section: Drastic Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Risk Assessment of Groundwater Contamination in the Gala, Tenguel, and Siete River Basins, Ponce Enriquez Mining Area—Ecuador

et al. 2022

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“…Evidently, DRASTIC is one of the most wi dely kn own and used methods for the assessment of aquifer vulnerability. It has been applied from municipal, such as National Capital Territory, Delhi, India [89] to the continental scale, where the study developed by [68] uses a critical application of the DRASTIC method to assess the intrinsic vulnerability of South American groundwater.…”

Section: Advantagesmentioning

confidence: 99%

DRASTIC, GOD, and SI approaches for assessing groundwater vulnerability to pollution: a review

Fannakh

Farsang

2022

Environ Sci Eur

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Over the last three to four decades, several methods for assessing groundwater vulnerability to anthropogenic pollution have been developed. Researchers and policymakers have widely used these methods for preventing groundwater pollution through knowledge about particularly vulnerable areas. This systematic review presents different and significant methods for assessing the vulnerability of aquifers for the protection of the resource. Previous studies mentioned that formulating a single technique for assessing groundwater vulnerability is difficult; thus, different methods and techniques have been proposed. Therefore, this paper presents three methods, namely, DRASTIC, GOD, and susceptibility index (SI), which will be discussed in detail, and highlights their advantages and limitations. In doing so, the study introduces the concept of aquifer vulnerability, and further discussion will be devoted to the three methods. Lastly, the study outlines the major challenges to the assessment of aquifer vulnerability. The review concludes the importance of groundwater vulnerability and strategies for preserving its quality.

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“…The addition of another parameter concerning land use/land cover is now also considered in the modified DRASTIC model (DRASTIC-LU) [14]. This DRASTIC model has been used in different studies to assess the aquifer vulnerability for regional development planning, to assess not only the impacts in intensive cultivation regions [15] but also the impacts of urban growth, agricultural activities [16], and even a country-scale assessment [17]. The soil erosion probability prediction by the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation methodology [18] is another valuable model to improve management practices in OPP areas.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi-Risk Assessment to Evaluate the Environmental Impact of Outdoor Pig Production Areas: A Case Study

Horta

Roque²,

Batista³

et al. 2022

Agronomy

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Outdoor pig production (OPP) can be considered an intensive system in many areas of the Mediterranean region. The concentration of the rainfall in the winter season, the OPP’s topographic and soil properties, together with the continuous input of food and pigs’ excreta, contribute to a profound increase in the nutrients leaching and soil erosion. This work aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the DRASTIC-LU index and the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) to provide early information to improve the planning of this type of pig production through more adequate location and sustainable management practices. The two models were applied to an OPP with 2.24 ha, with a heavy animal charge (one adult per 1.120 m2). The results showed that 85% of the OPP area has a moderate risk to the vulnerability index to groundwater pollution and 15% high risk. The risk of soil erosion ranged from very severe to extremely severe in 96% of the area. The DRASTIC-LU indexes and the RUSLE model produce a multi-risk assessment that agreed with the observed field data. These two models showed accuracy to be used for early assessment when choosing the best location and improving management practices for OPP systems.

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Assessment of intrinsic aquifer vulnerability at continental scale through a critical application of the drastic framework: The case of South America

Cited by 31 publications

References 92 publications

Risk Assessment of Groundwater Contamination in the Gala, Tenguel, and Siete River Basins, Ponce Enriquez Mining Area—Ecuador

Risk Assessment of Groundwater Contamination in the Gala, Tenguel, and Siete River Basins, Ponce Enriquez Mining Area—Ecuador

DRASTIC, GOD, and SI approaches for assessing groundwater vulnerability to pollution: a review

Multi-Risk Assessment to Evaluate the Environmental Impact of Outdoor Pig Production Areas: A Case Study

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