Comparing methods of groundwater vulnerability mapping

What is it about?

The concept of groundwater vulnerability mapping represents a basis for protection zoning. Several assessment methods have been developed, but do not produce reliable and consistent results. Four of them have been applied and validated in the same study area. For validation, a multi-tracer test (four injections) was carried out. The time of first detection and the normalised recovery were used as validation criteria. The results are compared and discussed.

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Why is it important?

In some countries, vulnerability mapping is used by law for protection zoning. Since protective measures result in land-use restrictions and equalisation payments, the vulnerability assessment needs to be reliable. To avoid subjectiveness in vulnerability assessment and to ensure reliable interpretation of vulnerability indices, the validation of vulnerability maps should be done by default. Therefore, common validation procedures, such as the one applied in this paper, should be employed.