Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Mapping groundwater pollution vulnerability with application in a basin in southern Brazil

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study presents the criteria and conditions that supported the development of a proposed vulnerability index and its application in the Córrego do Ribeirão do Feijão Basin, which is located in the central portion of the state of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. This basin was selected, because it is representative of very large areas in the south, west, and southeast regions of Brazil, is the main source of freshwater for the municipality of São Carlos, and has been undergoing accelerated changes due to diversified anthropogenic activities, thus increasing the number of contaminant sources. The proposed index is based on a hierarchy of information that includes a total of 46 attributes categorized into groups (4 rainfall attributes, 6 point contaminant sources, 5 non-point contaminant sources, 5 unconsolidated material 1, 4 unconsolidated material 2, 4 rock substrate 1, 4 rock substrate 2, 1 relief, 6 unconsolidated material 3, 4 rock substrate 3, and 3 groundwater), which were obtained from principles and procedures of engineering geological mapping and laboratory tests. The final vulnerability index for each land unit was obtained as a percentage using the total vulnerability index, which is the sum of the partial indices (these indices are normalized eigenvectors of the unit) and the maximum value that a unit can reach, considering the classes of maximum influence in vulnerability. The basin was divided into 29 categories controlled by engineering geological units and types of land uses, resulting in 94 land units, of which 17 were classified as Class 1, with the highest vulnerability; 41, 23, and 13 were classified as Classes 2, 3, and 4, respectively, with decreasing degrees of vulnerability. The results verify that the proposed index enables an adequate subdivision of the region and classification of the units, respecting the natural variability and the anthropogenic aspects. The attributes associated with land units and the datasheet used for data treatment permit a dynamic vulnerability analysis, because it is easier to identify and characterize the anthropogenic changes (mainly related to contaminant sources) per land unit in situ and to obtain new results that will require new control or planning measures.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Albinet M, Margat J (1970) Cartographie de la vulnerabilite´ a la pollution des nappes d’eausouterraine. Bull BRGM 2 3(4):13–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Baalousha H (2017) Vulnerability, probability and groundwater contamination risk. Environ Earth Sci 76(11):1

  • Bonfanti M, Ducci D, Masetti M, Sellerino M, Stevenazzi S (2016) Using statistical analyses for improving rating methods for groundwater vulnerability in contamination maps. Environ Earth Sci 75:1003. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-5793-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boufekane A, Saighi O. (‘2018) Application of groundwater vulnerability overlayand index methods to the Jijel Plain Area (Algeria). Ground Water 56(1):143–156. https://doi.org/10.1111/gwat.12582. Epub 2017 Aug 21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dickson-Anderson S, Lubianetzky T, Guo Y (2015) Proposed method: incorporation of fractured rock in aquifer vulnerability assessments. Environ Earth Sci. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4471-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duarte L, Teodoro AC, Gonçalves JA et al (2015) A dynamic map application for the assessment of groundwater vulnerability to pollution. Environ Earth Sci 74:2315. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4222-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gogu RC, Dassargues A (2000) Current trends and future challenges in groundwater vulnerability assessment using overlay and index methods. Environ Geol 39:549–559

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gogu RC, Hallet V, Dassargues A (2003) Comparison of aquifer vulnerability assessment techniques. Application to the Néblon river basin (Belgium). Environ Geol 44:881–892

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huneau F, Jaunat J, Kavouri K, Plagnes V, Rey F, Dörfliger N (2013) Intrinsic vulnerability mapping for small mountains karst aquifers, implementation of the new PaPRIKa method to Western Pyrenees (France). EngGeol 161:81–93

    Google Scholar 

  • Iván V, Mádl-Szőnyi J (2017) Vulnerability assessment and its validation: the Gomor-Torna Karst, Hungary and Slovakia. Geological Society, London (Special Publications, 466, 29 November)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jia R, Zhou JY, Zhou Y, Li Q, Gao YA (2014) Vulnerability evaluation of the phreatic water in the plain area of the Junggar Basin, Xinjiang Based on the VDEAL Model. Sustainability 6:8604–8617. https://doi.org/10.3390/su6128604

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Le Grand HE (1964) System for evaluating the contamination potential of some waste sites. J A Water Works Assoc 56(8):959–974

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mishima Y, Takada M, Kitagawa R (2011) Evaluation of intrinsic vulnerability to nitrate contamination of groundwater: appropriate fertilizer application management. Environ Earth Sci 63:571. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-010-0725-

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neukum C, Hötzl H (2006) Standardization of vulnerability maps. Environ Geol. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-006-0380-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Palmstrom A (2005) Measurements of and correlations between block size and rock quality designation (RQD). Tunn Undergr Space Technol 20:362–377

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peel MC, Finlayson BL, Mcmahon TA (2007) Updated world map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification. Hydrology and earth system sciences discussions. Eur Geosci Union 4(2):439–473

    Google Scholar 

  • Rao PSC, Alley WM (1993) Pesticides. In: Alley WM (ed) Regional groundwater quality. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, pp 345–382

    Google Scholar 

  • Saaty TL (1980) The Analytic Hierarchy Process. McGraw-Hill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Sahoo S, Dhar A, Kar A et al (2016) Index-based groundwater vulnerability mapping using quantitative parameters. Environ Earth Sci 75:522. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-5395-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vrba J, Zaporozec A (1994) Guidebook on mapping groundwater vulnerability, vol. 16. International contributions to hydrogeology (IAH). Verlag Heinz Heise, Hannover, p 131

    Google Scholar 

  • Witkowski AJ (2016) Groundwater vulnerability: from scientific concept to practical application. Environ Earth Sci 75:1134. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-5896-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Worrall F, Kolpin DW (2004) Aquifer vulnerability to pesticide pollution-combining soil, land-use and aquifer properties with molecular descriptors. J Hydrol 293:191–204

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zaporozec A (ed) (2002) Groundwater contamination inventory: a methodological guide. IHP-VI Series on Groundwater No. 2. UNESCO, U.N. Educ. Sci. Cult. Organ., Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou CS, Zhen XQ, Zang HF (2012) Assessment of groundwater vulnerability in Jingsheng Basin based on PCSM-AHP system. Water Resour Power 30:12–15, 214

    Google Scholar 

  • Zuquette LV, Pejon OJ, Collares JQ (2004) Engineering geological mapping developed in Fortaleza metropolitan region, state of Ceará, Brazil. Eng Geol 71:227–253

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) [No. 2014/02162-0].

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of São Paulo, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil

    Lazaro Valentin Zuquette & Moises Failache

Authors
  1. Lazaro Valentin Zuquette
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Moises Failache
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lazaro Valentin Zuquette.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zuquette, L.V., Failache, M. Mapping groundwater pollution vulnerability with application in a basin in southern Brazil. Environ Earth Sci 77, 689 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-018-7862-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-018-7862-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation