ASSESSMENT OF GROUNDWATER VULNERABILITY TO POLLUTION USING GOD METHOD IN THE SOUMMAM CATCHMENT AREA (NORTHERN ALGERIA)

Abstract

Aquifer vulnerability maps are useful to contribute to the protection of groundwater resources against possible contamination. The objective of this study is to determine the vulnerability to pollution of groundwater in Soummam catchment area (Northern Algeria) based on the GOD method by applying these three parameters: Groundwater occurrence (G), Overall aquifer class (O) and Depth to groundwater table (D). The mapping of these different parameters allows, after their superposition, the establishment of the vulnerability map. The map obtained highlights five zones with different degrees of vulnerability: extreme (0.7-1.0), strong (0.5-0.7), moderate (0.3-0.5), weak (0.1-0.3) and very weak (0.0-0.1). Occupy respectively (3%, 40%, 15%, 7%, and 35%) of the total basin area. The use of the vulnerability map contributes to the sustainable protection of natural resources. The projection of the pollution sources on the vulnerability map allowed us to establish the risk map.