Vertical Electrical Sounding Technique for Assessing the Quaternary Aquifer Vulnerability to Contamination in the Semi-Arid Khanasser Valley Region, Northern Syria
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Abstract
The aim of this paper is to evaluate the vulnerability of groundwater to contamination by adapting aquifer vulnerability index (AVI) approach, based mainly on the hydraulic conductivity (K) of the aquifer and overburden layers' thickness (h). The technique of vertical electrical sounding (VES) with the configuration of Schlumberger was applied to model the Quaternary aquifer and its overburden layers in the Khanasseer Valley area in Northern Syria. According to AVI classification, 5.88% of the study area is hugely polluted, 67.00% highly polluted, 23.53% moderately polluted, and 2.94% lowly polluted. Several hydro-geoelectrical parameters which affect the Aquifer Vulnerability Index (AVI) (such as anisotropy (λ) of the subsurface hydrogeological layers, thickness (hOverb), resistivity (ρOverb), hydraulic conductivity (K), and hydraulic resistance (C) of the protecting layers) are statistically analyzed. Different mutual empirical relationships between the above parameters are established through analyzing their statistical correlation matrix. The derived empirical relationships highlight the mutual hydrological processes and the lithological connectivity nature between the study Quaternary aquifer and its overlaying layers. The obtained results highlighted the importance of safeguarding groundwater resources, and outlined resource allocation to protect the aquifer zones, for decision-makers. This was the first time that AVI approach is applied in Syria, and can be consequently extended to other Syrian aquifers. AVI can be also applied worldwide to estimate the conditions dominating the aquifer’s protectivity in semi-arid regions.
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