Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Groundwater vulnerability and contamination risk assessment of the Weining Plain, using a modified DRASTIC model and quantized pollution loading method

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Arabian Journal of Geosciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Groundwater resources have become more vulnerable to contamination due to rapid population growth and economic development. This study aimed to assess the groundwater contamination risk in the Weining Plain, China. Based on the specific conditions of the Weining Plain, a new model DRTSWI with a weighting scheme determined by analytic hierarchy process was developed to evaluate the intrinsic groundwater vulnerability for the study area. An integrated approach, combining the toxicity, the release possibility, and the potential release quantity of the pollutants, was used to estimate the pollution loading. The groundwater contamination risk results were obtained by overlaying the intrinsic vulnerability and pollution loading maps. These indicated that two industrial parks pose the main threat to groundwater quality, due to their unfavorable hydrogeological setting and potential pollution sources on the surface. Some areas in and around the industrial parks exhibit groundwater pollution, which was identified on the contamination risk map using buffer analysis. High risk areas are industries with high or medium vulnerability. The vulnerability and contamination risk maps developed for this study are valuable tools for environmental planning and can be used for predictive management of groundwater resources.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Al-Abadi AM, Al-Shamma’a AM, Aljabbari MH (2014) A GIS-based DRASTIC model for assessing intrinsic groundwater vulnerability in northeastern Missan Governorate, southern Iraq. Appl Water Sci. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-014-0221-7

  • Aller L, Bennet T, Lehr JH, Petty RJ, Hackett G (1987) DRASTIC: a standardized system for evaluating groundwater pollution potentials using hydrogeological settings. EPA/600/2-87/035, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington DC

  • Al-Rawabdeh AM, Al-Ansari NA, Al-Taani AA, Al-Khateeb FL, Knutsson S (2014) Modeling the risk of groundwater contamination using modified DRASTIC and GIS in Amman-Zerqa Basin, Jordan. Cent Eur J Eng 4:264–280

    Google Scholar 

  • Antonakos AK, Lambrakis NJ (2007) Development and testing of three hybrid methods for the assessment of aquifer vulnerability to nitrates, based on the drastic model, an example from NE Korinthia, Greece. J Hydrol 333:288–304

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Civita M (1994) Vulnerability maps of aquifers subjected to pollution: theory and practice. Pitagora Editrice, Bologna (in Italian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Edet A (2014) An aquifer vulnerability assessment of the Benin Formation aquifer, Calabar, southeastern Nigeria, using DRASTIC and GIS approach. Environ Earth Sci 71:1747–1765

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ESRI (2016) ArcGIS Desktop Help 10.4. Environmental Systems Research Institute, Redlands, California

  • Finizio A, Villa S (2002) Environment risk assessment for pesticides: a tool for decision-makers. Environ Impact Assess 22:235–248

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foster SSD (1987) Fundamental concepts in aquifer vulnerability, pollution risk and protection strategy. In: van Duijvenbooden W, van Waegeningh HG (eds) Vulnerability of soil and groundwater to pollutants, processing and information, vol 38. TNO Committee on Hydrological Research, The Hague, pp 69–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghazavi R, Ebrahimi Z (2015) Assessing groundwater vulnerability to contamination in an arid environment using DRASTIC and GOD models. Environ Sci Technol 12:2909–2918

    Google Scholar 

  • Gogu RC, Dassargues A (2000) Sensitivity analysis for the EPIK method of vulnerability assessment in a small karstic aquifer, southern Belgium. Hydrogeol J 8(3):337–345

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Honnungar VC (2009) Structural and functional enhancements to regional-scale groundwater vulnerability assessment models. Dissertation, University of Mysore

  • Huan H, Wang JS, Zhai YZ, Xi BD, Li J, Li MX (2016) Quantitative evaluation of specific vulnerability to nitrate for groundwater resource protection based on process-based simulation model. Sci Total Environ 550:768–784

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jang CS, Chen SK (2015) Integrating indicator-based geostatistical estimation and aquifer vulnerability of nitrate-N for establishing groundwater protection zones. J Hydrol 523:441–451

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kazakis N, Voudouris KS (2015) Groundwater vulnerability and pollution risk assessment of porous aquifers to nitrate: modifying the DRASTIC method using quantitative parameters. J Hydrol 525:13–25

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klauco S (1987) Motion of pollutants in the groundwater as factor of their vulnerability. In: van Duijvenbooden W, van Waegeningh HG (eds) Vulnerability of soil and groundwater to pollutants. TNO Committee on Hydrological Research, The Hague, pp 403–408

    Google Scholar 

  • Li P (2016) Groundwater quality in western China: challenges and paths forward for groundwater quality research in western China. Expo Health 8(3):305–310. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-016-0210-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li Y, Li JH, Chen SS, Diao WH (2012) Establishing indices for groundwater contamination risk assessment in the vicinity of hazardous waste landfills in China. Environ Pollut 165:77–90

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li P, Qian H, Howard KWF, Wu J, Lyu X (2014a) Anthropogenic pollution and variability of manganese in alluvial sediments of the Yellow River, Ningxia, northwest China. Environ Monit Assess 186(3):1385–1398. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-013-3461-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li P, Wu J, Qian H (2014b) Hydrogeochemistry and quality assessment of shallow groundwater in the southern part of the Yellow River alluvial plain (Zhongwei section), China. Earth Sci Res J 18(1):27–38. https://doi.org/10.15446/esrj.v18n1.3404

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li P, Wu J, Qian H, Lyu X, Liu H (2014c) Origin and assessment of groundwater pollution and associated health risk: a case study in an industrial park, northwest China. Environ Geochem Health 36(4):693–712. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-013-9590-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li P, Qian H, Howard KWF, Wu J (2015a) Building a new and sustainable “Silk Road economic belt”. Environ Earth Sci 74(10):7267–7270. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4739-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li P, Qian H, Howard KWF, Wu J (2015b) Heavy metal contamination of Yellow River alluvial sediments, northwest China. Environ Earth Sci 73(7):3403–3415. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-014-3628-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li P, Wu J, Qian H (2016a) Regulation of secondary soil salinization in semi-arid regions: a simulation research in the Nanshantaizi area along the Silk Road, northwest China. Environ Earth Sci 75(8):698. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-5381-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li P, Wu J, Qian H, Zhang Y, Yang N, Jing L, Yu P (2016b) Hydrogeochemical characterization of groundwater in and around a wastewater irrigated forest in the southeastern edge of the Tengger Desert, Northwest China. Expo Health 8(3):331–348. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-016-0193-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li P, Tian R, Xue C, Wu J (2017) Progress, opportunities and key fields for groundwater quality research under the impacts of human activities in China with a special focus on western China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24(15):13224–13234. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-8753-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Margat J (1968) Vulnérabilité des nappes d’eau souterraine à la pollution. [Vulnerability of groundwater to pollution]. BRGM Publication 68 SGL 198 HYD, Orléans, France

  • Passarella G, Vurro M, D’Agostino V, Giuliano G, Barcelona MJ (2002) A probabilistic methodology to assess the risk of groundwater quality degradation. Environ Monit Assess 79:57–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qian H, Li P, Howard KWF, Yang C, Zhang X (2012) Assessment of groundwater vulnerability in the Yinchuan Plain, northwest China using OREADIC. Environ Monit Assess 184(6):3613–3628. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-011-2211-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ribeiro L (2000) SI: a new index of aquifer susceptibility to agricultural pollution. Internal report, ER-SHA/CVRM, Instituto Superior Te’cnico, Lisbon, Portugal

  • Saaty TL, Vargas LG (2001) Models, methods, concepts & applications of the analytic hierarchy process. Springer, Berlin

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Sener S, Sener E, Nas B, Karagüzel R (2010) Combining AHP with GIS for landfill site selection: a case study in the Lake Beyşehir catchment area (Konya, Turkey). Waste Manag 30:2037–2046

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shrestha S, Kafle R, Pandey VP (2016) Evaluation of index-overlay methods for groundwater vulnerability and risk assessment in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Sci Total Environ 575:779–790

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Beynen PE, Niedzielski MA, Bialkowska-Jelinska E, Alsharif K, Matusick J (2012) Comparative study of specific groundwater vulnerability of a karst aquifer in central Florida. Appl Geogr 32(2):868–877

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vías JM, Andreo B, Perles MJ, Carrasco F, Vadillo I, Jiménez P (2006) Proposed method for groundwater vulnerability mapping in carbonate (karstic) aquifers: the COP method. Hydrogeol J 14(6):912–925

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang JJ, He JT, Chen HH (2012) Assessment of groundwater contamination risk using hazard quantification, a modified DRASTIC model and groundwater value, Beijing Plain, China. Sci Total Environ 432:216–226

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu J, LP QH, Fang Y (2014) Assessment of soil salinization based on a low-cost method and its influencing factors in a semi-arid agricultural area, northwest China. Environ Earth Sci 71(8):3465–3475. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-013-2736-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu H, Chen J, Qian H (2016) A modified DRASTIC model for assessing contamination risk of groundwater in the northern suburb of Yinchuan, China. Environ Earth Sci 75:483

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu H, Qian H, Chen J, Huo CC (2017a) Assessment of agricultural drought vulnerability in the Guanzhong Plain, China. Water Resour Manag 31:1557–1574

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu J, Wang L, Wang S, Tian R, Xue C, Feng W, Li Y (2017b) Spatiotemporal variation of groundwater quality in an arid area experiencing long-term paper wastewater irrigation, northwest China. Environ Earth Sci 76(13):460. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-6787-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang LJ (2006) Review on groundwater vulnerability and risk assessment. Hydrogeol Eng Geol 6:113–119 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zwahlen F (2004) Vulnerability and risk mapping for the protection of carbonate (karst) aquifers, final report (COST action 620). European Commission, Directorate XII Science, Research and Development, Report EUR 20912, Brussels

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the reviewers for their insightful comments that greatly improved the quality of the paper.

Funding

The research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41172212) and the Foundation for the Excellent Doctoral Dissertation of Chang’an University (310829165005).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Chang’an University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, 710054, China

    Xinyan Li, Yanyan Gao, Hui Qian & Hao Wu

  2. Key Laboratory of Subsurface Hydrology and Ecological Effect in Arid Region of Ministry of Education, Chang’an University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, 710054, China

    Xinyan Li, Yanyan Gao, Hui Qian & Hao Wu

Authors
  1. Xinyan Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yanyan Gao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hui Qian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Hao Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xinyan Li.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Li, X., Gao, Y., Qian, H. et al. Groundwater vulnerability and contamination risk assessment of the Weining Plain, using a modified DRASTIC model and quantized pollution loading method. Arab J Geosci 10, 469 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-017-3255-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-017-3255-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation