A framework model to determine groundwater contamination risk based on a L-Matrix of aquifer vulnerability and hazardous activity indices.

ABSTRACT: The method presented in this study assesses groundwater contamination risk using a L-Matrix system approach. The L-Matrix in this case is a cartesian diagram where the XX-axis represents aquifer vulnerability (0≤V≤1) determined by the well-known DRASTIC model, and the YY-axis represents the potential hazardousness (0≤H≤1) of an activity (infrastructural development, industrial activities, livestock and agriculture) measured by a European Commission approach. The diagram is divided into four regions, the boundaries of which are set to V = 0.5 and H = 0.5. Watersheds are represented in this diagram considering their V and H indices, and assigned a potential contamination risk if groundwater sites located within their limits show contaminant concentrations above legal limits for a given use.

SUBMITTER: Pacheco FAL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9508549 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature