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Assessment of the effectiveness of DRASTIC in predicting the vulnerability of groundwater to contamination: a case study from Fatehgarh Sahib district in Punjab, India

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Abstract

The quality of groundwater has been declining in the Fatehgarh Sahib district of Punjab, India, over the last decade due to the enormous increase in the number of tube wells for the agricultural activities. The vulnerability of groundwater to contamination in the district was assessed using the DRASTIC model. Validation of vulnerable zones was undertaken using the chemical analysis of groundwater samples from the district. Based on this investigation, the inherent problems associated with the DRASTIC model are discussed as potential measures to improve the assessment of groundwater vulnerability.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Mr. Suresh Kumar, Secretary, Department of Irrigation, Punjab, and Mrs. Vinakshi Sharma, Executive Engineer, Department of Water Supply and Sanitation, Punjab, for providing the laboratory reports of water samples of Fatehgarh Sahib district. The authors are extremely thankful to Mr. Abrol, Senior Hydrogeologist, Department of Irrigation, Punjab, and Mr. Angrula, Senior Hydrogeologist, Central Groundwater Board, Chandigarh, for having detailed discussion on lithological and various hydrogeological aspects of Fatehgarh Sahib. The authors are also thankful to Water Resources Department, ISRO-IIRS, Dehradun, for its cooperation in conducting the complete exercise in a smooth manner.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Agrionics Division, Technology Block, CSIR-Central Scientific Instruments Organisation, Chandigarh, 160030, India

    Prashant Kumar, Baban K. S. Bansod & Sanjit K. Debnath

  2. Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research-CSIO, Chandigarh, 160030, India

    Prashant Kumar, Baban K. S. Bansod & Sanjit K. Debnath

  3. Water Resources Department, ISRO- Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, Dehradun, 248001, India

    Praveen K. Thakur

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  1. Prashant Kumar
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  2. Praveen K. Thakur
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  3. Baban K. S. Bansod
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  4. Sanjit K. Debnath
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Correspondence to Prashant Kumar.

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Kumar, P., Thakur, P.K., Bansod, B.K.S. et al. Assessment of the effectiveness of DRASTIC in predicting the vulnerability of groundwater to contamination: a case study from Fatehgarh Sahib district in Punjab, India. Environ Earth Sci 75, 879 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-5712-4

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