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Spatial analysis of groundwater vulnerability to contamination and human activity impact using a modified DRASTIC model in Elalla-Aynalem Catchment, Northern Ethiopia

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Abstract

Once if groundwater has been contaminated, it is difficult to treat it since natural dilution is slow and artificial flushing is impractical. Hence, this study was aimed to analyse the spatial vulnerability to contamination and human activities impact on the groundwater of Elalla-Aynalem Catchment, using depth to water table, net recharge, aquifer type, soil media, topography, impact of vadose zone, hydraulic conductivity and land use/cover. DRASTIC index gives three different groundwater vulnerability zones, namely: high (6.7%), moderate (32%) and low (61.3%), and the modified DRASTIC (Human activity impact) index map gives four vulnerability zones as low, medium, high and very high with area coverage of 18.5%, 29.1%, 32.6% and 19.8% of the study area, respectively. The depth to water table and vadose media are the most significant hydrogeological factors determining the DRASTIC vulnerability resulted from sensitivity analyses. The groundwater vulnerability map with measured NO3 data shows 70.69% and 84.48% agreement for DRASTIC model and modified DRASTIC model, respectively, indicated that the role of LuLc is important. Solid waste disposal, sewerage, gases from industries, municipal wastes, garages, fuel station, health centers and agricultural activities are some of the possible pollutants that could continuously deteriorate the quality of groundwater in the catchment. This study provides integrated plat form and compressive data set of hydrogeological factors for spatial analysis to fill spatial data gaps, and it can be effectively utilized in the planning and management of the groundwater resources in vulnerable zones of Elalla-Aynalem Catchment.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge Tigray Agricultural Research Institute, Mekelle Soil Research Center and Mekelle University For the research fund and felowship. The authors also acknowledge Tigray Region Water Bureau and Tigray Region Water Works and Construction Enterprise (TWWCE), Tigray Region Water works, Design, Study and Supervision Enterprise (TWWDSSE), Tekeze Dip Wells Drilling P.L.C and Mekelle Water Supply Office, for providing hydrogeological data.The reviewers and editors are gratefully acknowledged for their valuable comments on the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tigray Agricultural Research Institute, Mekelle Soil Research Center, P.O. Box 1070, Mekelle, Ethiopia

    Gebremedhin Berhe Zenebe

  2. Mekelle University, P.O. Box 231, Mekelle, Ethiopia

    Abdelwassie Hussien & Gebrerufael Hailu

  3. Tigray Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 492, Mekelle, Ethiopia

    Abbadi Girmay

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  1. Gebremedhin Berhe Zenebe
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Berhe Zenebe, G., Hussien, A., Girmay, A. et al. Spatial analysis of groundwater vulnerability to contamination and human activity impact using a modified DRASTIC model in Elalla-Aynalem Catchment, Northern Ethiopia. Sustain. Water Resour. Manag. 6, 51 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40899-020-00406-7

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