Abstract:
Aquifer vulnerability concerns assessment of risk associated with
groundwater resources. Investigations are carried out based on concepts
applied to assess groundwater bodies. Aquifer vulnerability concepts
discussed are based on available input data (subjective, physical, and
statistical); resource and source protection; intrinsic and specific
approaches. The broad-based methods most vulnerability approaches
follow are the hydrogeological and complex setting method, statistical
method, mathematical method, parametric system method, and index
method. Fifteen commonly used methods were reviewed, stating the
concept, purposes, advantages, and limitations. The methods were
selected based on applicability to karst topography, the basis for
European vulnerability approaches, travel time concept based on
physically based approaches and intrinsic vulnerability approaches. The
review discusses the importance of vulnerability validation and suggests appropriate validation techniques that can be adopted. The review
concludes with discussions on the challenges and directions for future
contributions on aquifer vulnerability.
