Application of GIS‐based DRASTIC model and its validation with Solute Transport Model in the assessment of groundwater vulnerability index: A case study from coal mining region of India

• Published in: Environmental quality management 2023-12, Vol.33 (2), p.265-276
• Main Authors: Saw, Shivam, Singh, Prasoon Kumar, Mahato, Jaydev Kumar, Patel, Rohit, Deoli, Vaibhav, Singh, Lakshman
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: advection–dispersion equation; Aquifers; Coal mining; Contaminants; Contamination; DRASTIC; Environmental management; Environmental quality; Geographic information systems; GIS; Groundwater; Groundwater depletion; groundwater flow; Groundwater pollution; Groundwater recharge; Mining; Pollution dispersion; Pollution transport; Soil contamination; Soil moisture; Soil permeability; Soil pollution; Solute transport; Vadose water; Water resources
• ISSN: 1088-1913; 1520-6483
• DOI: 10.1002/tqem.22000

The intensive Coal mining in Dhanbad, India, is crucial for contaminating the groundwater resources. The present work aims to estimate the vulnerability of aquifers to contamination with the aid of a GIS‐based DRASTIC approach. This is finally validated by comparing the concentration of the contaminant computed by the Solute Transport Model. Using the soil moisture flow and pollutant transport model, an effort is made to validate the vulnerability of groundwater pollution. The vulnerability maps showed that some of this region's western southwest, and northern part lies in the highly vulnerable region. The major influential parameters in the present study for mapping the vulnerability are shallow depth to groundwater, higher net recharge and more permeable vadose zone. Furthermore, the surrounding mining activities are highly accountable for depleting groundwater superiority in the present research area. These vulnerability maps can be later on effectively used for environmental development and managing future water resources. The Solute Transport Model does not compute vulnerability; instead, it computes the concentration of the contaminant.