Groundwater vulnerability assessment in the vicinity of Ramtha wastewater treatment plant, North Jordan

Muheeb Awawdeh,Ghusun Zaiter,Mutewekil Obeidat

doi:10.1007/s13201-014-0194-6

Abstract

The main aim of this study was to evaluate the vulnerability of groundwater to contamination in the vicinity of Ramtha wastewater treatment plant using a modified DRASTIC method in a GIS environment. A groundwater pollution potential map was prepared using modified DRASTIC method by adding lineaments and land use/land cover parameters. The values of the modified DRASTIC index were classified into three categories: low, moderate and high. About 36.5 % of the study area is occupied by the high vulnerability class, 56.5 % is occupied by the moderate vulnerability class and 9 % is occupied by the low vulnerability class. Chemical analysis of the water samples collected from wells distributed in the study area and tapping Umm Rijam aquifer indicated that the nitrate concentration ranges from 20 to 193 mg/L with an average 65.5 mg/L. Nitrate exceeded the permissible limits of WHO and Jordanian standards in 69 and 54 % of the NO3 − samples, respectively. The modified DRASTIC model was validated using nitrate concentration. Results showed a good match between nitrate concentrations level and the groundwater vulnerability classes.

Highlights

Jordan has very limited natural resources; it is ranked among the five most water-poor countries in the world (United Nations 2006)
About 36.5 % of the study area is occupied by the high vulnerability class, 56.5 % is occupied by the moderate vulnerability class and 9 % is occupied by the low vulnerability class
AD3028 is found in the high vulnerability zone. These results show a very good match between nitrate concentrations level and the groundwater vulnerability model

Summary

Introduction

Jordan has very limited natural resources; it is ranked among the five most water-poor countries in the world (United Nations 2006). Water quality in Jordan has deteriorated due to various sources of pollution, and over-abstraction resulting in salinization. Over-abstraction of groundwater for irrigation has reduced the water table by 5 m in some aquifers and tripled salinity, and unregulated N-fertilizer application has increased nitrates in water supplies (Wardam 2004). Industrial discharges are improperly treated or untreated, which introduce toxicity into water resources (Mohsen 2007). Nitrate has become a major source of groundwater pollution in Jordan (Margane et al 1999). The research on groundwater vulnerability is essential to ensure the quality of groundwater and realize the sustainability of groundwater resources

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion