Spatial Modeling of Water Quality in South Asian Semiarid Region

Abstract

The Aquifer Vulnerability Assessment in Thamirabarani river basin is the study demarking the pollution zones in GIS environment using DRASTIC model. Protecting and controlling water resources are the need of the hour to meet out the challenges of increasing in population and demand on water. Development in agriculture, urban, and industrial activities are the major contributing factors which contaminate the groundwater at the study area. An attempt was made to study and identify aquifer vulnerability zone in Thamirabarani river basin by implementing Geographic Information System-based DRASTIC model. This study identifieshighlyprone zones to groundwater contamination occupying most of the study area, which alerts the Thamirabarani river basin management people to take mitigation measurements against the pollution sources. This model identifies three vulnerability zones, namely, low with 60 to 80 indices, medium with 80 to 120 index and high with 120 to 150 indices. The output of the study gives a better approach for understanding the quality of the basin groundwater and to identify the vulnerable area in Thamirabaraniriverbasin.