Vulnerability mapping of groundwater aquifer using SINTACS in Wadi Al-Waleh Catchment, Jordan
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ORIGINAL PAPER
Vulnerability mapping of groundwater aquifer using SINTACS in Wadi Al-Waleh Catchment, Jordan Atallah M. Al-Shatnawi 1 & Mohammad Said El-Bashir 2 & Refaat M. Bani Khalaf 3 & Nabeel M. Gazzaz 4
Received: 12 November 2014 / Accepted: 10 September 2015 # Saudi Society for Geosciences 2015
Abstract This paper aims at evaluating the level of groundwater vulnerability to pollution in Wadi Al-Waleh wells and South Amman area based on SINTACS model. The Wadi AlWaleh Catchment (WWC) is considered to be one of the most important sub-basins in the middle part of Jordan. This study creates a map of groundwater vulnerability that shows areas with potential pollution. Areas are then classified into units with different levels of vulnerability based on anthropogenic and hydrogeological factors. The parameters of the SINTACS model are rated and evaluated by weight numerical indices. The vulnerability parameter is set upon fixed percentage interval of the sub-basin’s area. SINTACS index values have been categorized into four groups of pollution: very low (green), low (yellow), medium (orange), and medium to high (red). The results reveal that the units with very low levels of vulnerability to pollution cover an area of 0.17 km2. In addition,
units with low, medium, and medium to high levels of vulnerability to pollution cover areas of 44.13, 1102.37, and 654.97 km2, respectively. The vulnerability maps show that most of the sub-surface area of WWC is characterized by medium to high levels of vulnerability to pollution, while units with very low and low vulnerability to pollution cover small areas of the western part of WWC. As well, the vulnerability maps show that there is moderate–high risk of pollution in the middle to eastern parts of WWC sub-basin. The risk of pollution in WWC mainly stems from intensive agricultural activities in the area. Keywords Aquifer vulnerability . Pollution . SINTACS model . Imaging map . Wadi Al-Waleh Catchment . Wadi Mujib
Introduction * Atallah M. Al-Shatnawi [email protected] Mohammad Said El-Bashir [email protected] Refaat M. Bani Khalaf [email protected] Nabeel M. Gazzaz [email protected]
1
Department of Information Systems, Al al-Bayt University, Mafraq, Jordan
2
Department of Computer Science, Al al-Bayt University, Mafraq, Jordan
3
Water Authority of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
4
Faculty of Environmental Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
Water shortage is a severe problem in Jordan and is a serious challenge for the incoming generations. Jordan is a country that suffers from severe droughts, contains few available water resources, and experiences increasing demands on water every year with the growth in population. Jordan therefore relies mainly on groundwater resources to meet these demands. These resources are under the threat of pollution due to human activities, nonsound management of aquifers, the excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers, and the discharge of chemical substances and waste into water (Al-Rawabdeh et al. 2013;
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