Determination of Groundwater Protection Zones of the Pozharan Wellfield Using Hydrogeological Modflow Model

Abstract

This article concerns the calculation of the Groundwater Protection Zones (GWPZ) of the Pozharan/Požaranje wellfield. It shows the methodology of delineating water source protection zones with a hydrogeological computer model and serves as an example for further work in this field. The wellfield is located in the south-eastern part of Kosovo, about 1 km west of Viti/Vitia and is an important water supply source for the neighboring villages. The wellfield is located 35 km southeast of Prishtina/Priština, the capital city of Kosovo. A total of four public water production wells have been drilled into the aquifer for which the protection zones will be calculated. In order to delineate the Groundwater Protection Zones according to the Kosovar regulations, a groundwater model was set up to calculate the groundwater flow in the well field. Data has to be collected to create such a model. With help of previous studies and own investigations, the aquifer was identified. A large part of the work is finding observation wells (piezometers) in the study area and measuring its height and groundwater level. Afterwards, the model was calibrated. The model is capable of calculating flow paths and by means of particle tracking, it is possible to visualize where the water comes from. Adding the speed of groundwater flow, the time dependent zones can be drawn. Finally, the three protection zones were described as well as the proposed land use restrictions and the recommendations for land use planning were described. Several hazards to groundwater were identified and described inside those zones.