Surface and groundwater resources are two important sources in meeting agricultural, urban, and industrial needs. Random supply of surface water resources has prevented these resources from being a reliable source of water supply at all times. Therefore, groundwater acts as insurance in case of water shortage, and maintaining the quality of these resources is very important. On the other hand, studying vulnerability and identifying areas prone to aquifer pollution seems necessary for the development and optimal management of these valuable resources. Identifying the vulnerabilities of the aquifer areas to pollution will lead to a greater focus on preserving those areas. Therefore, groundwater quality assessment was performed in this study using the groundwater quality index (GQI), and groundwater vulnerability to pollution was assessed using the DRASTIC index. GQI is developed based on the values of six quality parameters (Na ⁺, Mg ²⁺, Ca ²⁺, SO _{4^2–, Cl^–, and TDS). The DRASTIC index is developed based on the values of seven parameters (depth to the water table, net recharge, aquifer media, soil media, topography, impact of vadose zone, hydraulic conductivity). The zoning of both indexes has been done using geographic information system (GIS) software. The results show that the GQI of the region was about 93, and its DRASTIC index was about 86. Therefore, the quality of aquifer groundwater is excellent, and its vulnerability to pollution is low.}

Groundwater is a vital resource for domestic, agricultural, industrial activities and ecosystem services. Despite its multi-ple purposes, the resource is under significant threat owing to increasing contamination from anthropogenic activities and climate change. Hence, in order to ensure the reliability and sustainable use of groundwater for the present and future gener-ations, effective management of groundwater (quality and quantity) is highly important. This can be achieved by identifying areas more vulnerable to contamination and implementing protective measures. The present study aims at assessing the vul-nerability of groundwater using GIS-based DRASTIC index in the Quaternary catchment (A21C) within Limpopo River Basin. The vulnerability index varied from 87 to 207. About 53.6% (408 km2) of the catchment area also exhibited high risk of groundwater contamination mostly in central, north-eastern and western part of the sub-catchment. The medium and low vulnerability classes cover only 18.1% (137.5 km2) and 21.7% (165.1 km2) of the study area, respectively. The shallow groundwater at the Doornfontein Campus belongs to very high vulnerability area. The sensitivity analysis indicates that depth to water level, recharge, aquifer media, soil and topography are the important contributors to vulnerability assessment. The correlation analysis performed to validate the final vulnerability map shows a moderate positive correlation, indicating the model’s applicability to the urbanised environment. The study indicates an area that is highly vulnerable to pollution, and hence protective measures are necessary for sustainable management of the groundwater resource in the study area. The result of this study can also be further improved and verified by using other vulnerability assessment models.

This article introduces a groundwater vulnerability assessment model that utilises the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) in the Wadi AlHasa catchment, Jordan. The assessment takes into account both geomorphological and hydrogeological variables, employing a comprehensive methodology that integrates various parameters. To evaluate the catchment, the study employs remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques. The analysis of the digital elevation model enables the creation of a map illustrating the diverse geomorphology of the catchment. This geomorphology significantly influences drainage density, direction, and the spatial distribution and intensity of flash flood events. Moreover, the study develops and maps a fuzzy FAHP DRASTIC vulnerability index, which proves to be a valuable tool for assessing the susceptibility of groundwater resources to contamination. The unique feature of the index is its ability to incorporate uncertain or subjective data, providing a means to evaluate the significance of various influencing factors. This information serves as critical support for decision-making and management efforts geared towards safeguarding and enhancing groundwater resources. Within the study area, the DRASTIC vulnerability index values span from 0.08325 to 0.28409, with 18% of the site exhibiting a high vulnerability rate. Additionally, the article implements a managed aquifer recharge model (MAR), with 31% of the area falling into MAR classes. Among these, 22.1% are classified as a high MAR class, while 0.7% belong to a very high MAR class. These findings underscore the feasibility of MAR projects in regions with limited water resources.