GIS based groundwater vulnerability assessment using DRASTIC model at Mahi River Basin, Rajasthan, India

Abstract

Groundwater is one of the important source to humankind, but there has been an increasing load to this precious resource which has become necessary to study it in detail. In the present study such an attempt has been made to account the groundwater vulnerability using as overlay index method, DRASTIC which is used to prepare a vulnerability map using GIS Technique for Mahi river basin, Rajasthan, India. This method accounts for the aquifer parameters like depth to water, net recharge, aquifer media, soil media, impact of vadose zone and hydraulic conductivity. The DRASTIC Vulnerability index (DVI) is calculated as the sum of product of ratings and weights assigned to each of the parameter on the scale of 1 to 10 and 1 to 5 respectively. The vulnerability index is then classified into five different classes and it was deduced that lies as Very Low (20.6 %), Low (28.23 %), Medium (29.11 %), High (18.82 %), and Very High (3.24 %) Vulnerability zones. Further research is conducted in order to assess the general threat to groundwater growth by the multiple industries, showing that the district will quickly collapse into a Exploited Zone, as the present pattern of growth in the agricultural and Industrial sector remains Continued. The map created for the sustainable use of the aquifer can be used as a managerial assessment in order to track and further Preventive Measures can be taken in advance to control the Growth of various Vulnerability Zones.