THE USE OF THE DRASTIC METHOD AND GIS IN ASSEESSING THE VULNERABILITY OF THE GROUNDWATER, IN THE VELIPOJA -ZADRIMA AQUIFER, ALBANIA

PDF
Published: Jul 27, 2016
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/bgsg.11769
Keywords:
Map groundwater management
S. Bele
Polytechnic University of Tirana, Geological Faculty of Mining, Geoinformation Department
Abstract

The Albanian plain area is densely populated. The population doubled during the last two decades and most of it uses the groundwaters of these aquifers. Aquifers in lowland areas are vulnerable to pollution. This article assesses the vulnerability of groundwater Velipoj-Zadrimè aquifer. This aquifer has a surface of 237 km2 and an average height of 10m above sea level. Groundwater recourses are connected with alluvial deposits formed by Drini and Buna rivers. The vulnerability Map is an ιmportant tool for the management of the territory. It guides the selection of areas for development projects, in order to avoid negative consequences on the quality of groundwater. Geographic Information Systems are very valuable programme for processing. The DRASTIC method has been used to map the natural aquifer vulnerability of the Velipoja-Zadrima study area. This method, applied to assess the vulnerability of the aquifer, was developed by the "Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA)" and "The National Association of Water Wells (NWWA)". It is a technique to assess the potential contamination of groundwater and is based on seven (7) parameters: Depth (D), Recharge (R), Aquifer media (A), Soil media (S), Topography (T), Impact of vadose zone (I), and Conductivity of the aquifer (C). The DRASTIC index is determined by the sum of the products of the Weight and site ratings of all the parameters. High values of vulnerability cover large areas of the aquifer. The results provide important information for local authorities in the management of resources and territory.

Article Details
  • Section
  • Engineering Geology, Hydrogeology, Urban Geology
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.

Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g. post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (preferably in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.

Downloads
Download data is not yet available.
References
Aller, L., Bennet, T., Lehr, J.H. and Petty, R.J., 1987. DRASTIC: A standardized system for
evaluating groundwater pollution potential using hydrogeologic settings, U.S. EPA Report,
/2-85/018.
Babameto, A., 1968. Report on the results of the hydrogeological works performed during 1968 in
the districts of Shkodra-Lezha-Durres and Fieri, G.S.A Archive.
Beshku, H., 2012. Hydrogeological Report of Buna basin in Albania, GEF-UNEP-MAP Med
Partnership Project, Activity 1.1. 2. 2. Integration of groundwater and coastal aquifer
management in ICZM and IWRM planning systems, Environment Ministry's Archive, Tiranë.
Beshku, H., 2012b. Report on “Assessment of Risk and Uncertainty related to Coastal Aquifers
Management in Albania: UNESCO-IHP Sub-component 1.1 on “Managing Coastal Aquifer
and Groundwater” of the GEF UNEP/MAP “Strategic Partnership for the Mediterranean Sea
Large Marine Ecosystem (MedPartnership)”, Environment Ministry's Archive, Tiranë.
Beshku, H., Pambuku, A. and Avxhi, A., 2014. Annual Report of Albania hydrogeological map in
scale 1:200 000.
Civita, M., 1994. Le carte della vulnerabilita degli acquferi all’ inqunamento. Teoria and practica.
(Aquifer pollution vulnerability maps), Pitatora Ed., Bologna (in Italian).
Gelaj, A, Gjivogli, G. and Mamaj, A., 2001. The assessment and possibility of increasing the
exploitable groundwater reserves in Albania and defining the terms of their rational use (the
region of Shkodra, Lushnje area of Burrel and the Bulqiza-Bishop). Scale 1:50 000, A.G.S
Archive.
Gjata, A., Lako, A., Romeo, E. and Tyli, N., Report on geological surveying works in 1964.
Gjata, A., Lako, A., Eftimi, R. and Tyli, N., 1965. Hydrogeology of Tirane-Koplik area, Central
Archive of AGS, Tirana (in Albanian).
Hoxha, J., Kuliçi, H. and Cara, F., 2009. Quaternary deposits in the geological structures of
Albanides, UPT, Inst. Geosciences, Tirana, 201-213.
Keta, Z., Babameto, A. and Haxhia, P., 1988. Project on the complex mapping at the scale 1: 25.000
of Bregu I Bunes-Fusha Zadrimes-Velipoje-Lezhe, Central Archive of AGS, Tirana (in
Albanian).
Margat, J., 1968. Groundwater vulnerability to contamination, Publication 68, BRGM, Orleans,
France.
Sener, E., Sener, S. and Davraz, A., 2009. Assessment of aquifer vulnerability based on GIS and
DRASTIC methods: a case study of the Senirkent-Uluborlu basin (Isparta, Turkey).
Hydrogeology Journal, 17, 2023-2035.
Tülin, N., 1988. Report on the water supply to the villages of Shirq, Samrish, Dajçivjeter, Trush,
Plepan, Mount Jushi, Oblike e re, A.G.S archive.
Vrba, J. and Zaporozec, A., 1994.Guidebook on mapping groundwater vulnerability, Heise.
Voudouris, K., Kazakis, N., Polemio, M. and Kareklas, K., 2010. Assessment of Intrinsic Vulnera
bility usinf the DRASTIC Model and GIS in the KITI Aquifer, Cyprus, European Water, 30,
-24, 2010.