ASSESSMENT OF GROUNDWATER VULNERABILITY TO POLLUTION IN AQUIFER IN HARIDWAR DISTRICT, INDIA

Abstract

In recent years, groundwater has become an increasingly important source of drinking water due to the limited availability of other sources. However, anthropogenic activities such as industrialization, urbanization, and agricultural practices have contributed to the contamination of groundwater, making it unfit for human consumption. Therefore, understanding the local groundwater contamination and vulnerability has become crucial for effective groundwater management. Aquifer vulnerability maps have become more popular as a means of identifying areas at risk of groundwater contamination. These maps provide a spatial representation of the degree of vulnerability of an aquifer to contamination. In this research work, the objective is to identify the different vulnerable zones of Haridwar district based on the degree of vulnerability. The study area has been divided into three categories: low vulnerable, medium vulnerable, and highly vulnerable regions. The findings reveal that a large area falls under the highly vulnerable region by DRASTIC modelling and large area falls under moderate vulnerable region according to DRASTIC-LU modelling. To achieve the objective of this research work, the DRASTIC and DRASTIC-LU modelling technique has been used in ArcGIS software. This model is a widely used method for assessing groundwater vulnerability and has been applied to many areas across the world. DRASTIC stands for Depth to water table, Recharge, Aquifer media, Soil media, Topography, Impact of vadose zone, and Conductivity and LU stands for land use. These parameters are used to calculate a composite vulnerability index, which can then be mapped to show the degree of vulnerability in different areas. The DRASTIC and DRASTIC-LU model can be used as a groundwater management tool by local authorities. By identifying areas that are most vulnerable to contamination, authorities can prioritize monitoring and management efforts to protect the groundwater resource. The results of this study can also be used to guide land-use planning and development decisions in the study area to minimize the risk of groundwater contamination. Overall, this research work is important for effective groundwater management in Haridwar district and can be used as a template for similar studies in other regions.