Abstract
Groundwater contamination along with anthropogenic actions and land use forms are increasing threats in urbanized zones around the world. Additionally, water quality and quantity are declining due to urbanization development. DRASTIC parameters (depth to the water table, net recharge, aquifer media, soil media, topography, impact of the vadose zone, hydraulic conductivity) were considered to investigate hydrological characteristics for assessment of contamination. Having a major effect of anthropogenic activities, various susceptibility zones were produced by modifying the DRASTIC model into DRASTICA, integrating anthropogenic effects as the “A” parameter in an alphabetic system. After the assessment, the research exposes that from the total area, 14% is under very high susceptibility, 44% is of high susceptibility, 39% is of moderate susceptibility, and 3% is of low susceptibility to groundwater pollution. The results in the built-up areas and based on the parameter of nitrate in quality of water show that the altered DRASTIC model or DRASTICA model proved to give better outcomes compared with the usual DRASTIC model. The policy advisers and management authorities must use the analysis data as precaution measures so that future calamities can be avoided.
Highlights
Groundwater susceptibility to contamination can be assessed by generating thematic maps of DRASTIC parameters, and after analyzing the results, a final susceptibility map was prepared to estimate the concentration of nitrates present in the research region
This study has been directed to evaluate the susceptibility of the groundwater of a civilized environment in the northern region of Pakistan, Chitral, and engaging experimental approach in the DRASTIC model with the assistance of geographic information system (GIS) software
To trace the land use pattern and anthropogenic settlements, a modification method has been applied to develop a revolutionary procedure labeled as a modified DRASTIC or DRASTICA model
Summary
Groundwater is one of the most essentials of our human structure and contributes a major share in our economic development [1,2,3]. It is the only life support source proving substantial for cultivable lands and uncultivable, where there is no other water source available [4,5]. More than two billion people need drinking water and rely on groundwater [1]. For the past few years, drinking unclean water has led to major health fears due to a contamination rise in groundwater capital [9,10,11,12]. Contamination of drinking water is responsible for 30% of illnesses and 40%
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