DRASTIC for Groundwater Vulnerability Assessment using GIS: A Case Study in Laylan Sub-Basin, Kirkuk, Iraq

Abstract

Vulnerability evaluation to determine more susceptible to contamination regions has played a significant role in urban planning and resources management. Our study is the first study comes to use the DRASTIC model assessing the vulnerability areas of the Laylan sub-basin. An extra aim is to prove the integration between DRASTIC and the geographical information system for risk estimation of groundwater discrimination. Seven DRASTIC factors have been utilized to maintain the groundwater quality in the study area. These parameters were prepared and analyzed using geographical information system software. Each parameter was got a weight according to its importance. The sum of these parameters produced a final map showing the areas of vulnerability in the region. The final map contains five vulnerability zones distributed in the Laylan sub-basin. The northern and northwestern parts of Laylan sub-basin were characterized as very high and high vulnerability; whilst the central part was dominated as very low and low vulnerability.