Abstract
The importance of groundwater portability and the possible sources of anthropogenic contamination have led to the development of intrinsic groundwater vulnerability mapping. In this study, groundwater vulnerability map for Amman Zarqa Basin (AZB) has been generated based on information derived and calculated from processed remote sensing information and laboratory analysis. The database was prepared from soil hydro geological and hydrological data, Digital Elevation Model (DEM), and geological maps. For assessment of groundwater vulnerability, the method proposed by the state geological surveys of Germany (GLA-method) has been adapted and applied. The vulnerability map shows about 77% which is about 2919 Km2 of the AZB is classified as very low to low which could be corresponding to the pollution sources due to the absence of potential hazards and also due to low vulnerabilities. These areas could consequently be interesting for future development as they set preferable in view of ground water protection. In addition, about 14% (530 km2) is classified within the moderate vulnerability zone. About 5% (around 19 km2) of the study area lies under the area of high vulnerability zone. Only 4% can be classified as very high risk areas. Groundwater quality results revealed that water leach ate from point source is the main cause for groundwater contaminations in highly vulnerable karstic limestone aquifer (Amman Wadi Es Sir Aquifer-B2/A7). On the other hand, the Kurnub Sandstone aquifer (K) is generally well protected in the central and eastern part of the AZB due to its thick cover of partly marly sequences. However, the Kurnub aquifer might have a potential risk from the recharged infiltrating surface water from the Zarqa River, which is highly polluted due to industrial activities located along the river.
Highlights
Groundwater is a vital natural resource for the economic development and secure provision of drinking water, especially in arid and semi-arid areas, that experience shortage of water resources
This has led researchers to introduce techniques to evaluate the potential risks to the groundwater resources in the form of “groundwater vulnerability” that was first used in the 1960s [4]
The present study aims at examining the practical application of vulnerability mapping method that presents all the climatic, geological and hydro geological characteristics of the Amman Zarqa Basin (AZB)
Summary
Groundwater is a vital natural resource for the economic development and secure provision of drinking water, especially in arid and semi-arid areas, that experience shortage of water resources. Groundwater vulnerability is a concept based on the assumption that the physical environment provides some natural protection to groundwater against human impacts, especially with regard to contaminants entering the subsurface environment. It is defined as the tendency or likelihood of contaminants reaching the groundwater system after introduction at the surface and is based on the fundamental concept that some land areas are more vulnerable to groundwater contamination than others [5]. The second addresses intrinsic vulnerability, which does not consider the attributes and behavior of specific contaminants and encompasses all pollutant sources [7]
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