Mapping groundwater potential zone using groundwater potentiality index in Sulamu, Central Fatuleu and West Fatuleu, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara

Abstract

Water scarcity often occurs during the dry season in Kupang Regency, which is a semi-arid area. The drought limits surface water availability during the dry season, thus making groundwater one of the reliable solutions for fulfilling the need for water from springs and wells. Therefore, mapping the potential of groundwater in the research area becomes the aim of this study, which has never been conducted before. The method used in this research is the Groundwater Potentiality Index, which uses five parameters to identify groundwater potential areas: fracture, lithology, topography, drainage, and rainfall. Field observation and secondary data collection were conducted to provide those parameters. The results are groundwater potential index classified into five groundwater potential zones, resulting in very low (17.07% and 20.39% of total area), low (51.16% and 48.94% of total area), moderate (26.9% and 27.05% of total area), high (4.09% and 3.1% of total area), and very high (0.77% and 0.53% of total area). Zones of very high are found along major fault areas. Areas with high groundwater potential zones indicated favorable conditions for wells positioning at groundwater exploration. These results can be a basis for action related to groundwater resource development in the research area.