Vulnerability of the aquifers occuring within the catchment basin of Wied Il-Hesri

Abstract

This study investigates whether Wied il-Hesri groundwater is vulnerable to pollution. Groundwater pollution is a threat particularly because groundwater is a very limited natural resource and ends up as potable water. Vulnerability of groundwater was assessed through the vulnerability mapping technique known as DRASTIC Method developed by the U.S.EPA at the Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory in 1985. This was done by determining a set of seven hydrogeologic parameters which were then weighted according to their relatively susceptibility to the pollution. The resulting DRASTIC Index was used to assess which parts of the area under study are vulnerable to pollution. The results were shown on a vulnerability map. The results indicated that the groundwater in the area is vulnerable to pollution, with the central part being the most vulnerable. The source of pollution encountered in this study that could lead to groundwater pollution was mainly crop agriculture, animal husbandry and illegal waste disposal dumps.