Hydrogeology and vulnerability assessment of groundwater resources in the Mostaganem plateau, Northwestern Algeria

This study utilized the GIS technique and the DRASTIC method to assess the vulnerability of groundwater resources to contamination in the Mostaganemplateau, northwestern Algeria. The DRASTIC groundwater vulnerability map shows regional groundwater areas that are sensitive to contamination on the basis of hydrogeologic conditions. Seven hydrogeologie factors were used for the vulnerability assessment. There are depth to water table, net recharge, aquifer media, soil media, topography, impact of the vadose zone, and aquifer hydraulic conductivity. The vulnerability maps were constructed using MAPINFO software. The areas of highest contamination vulnerability are Mostaganem city and Mazagran city. The areas of lowest contamination vulnerability are located in the northern part of the study area. A risk of pollution map is deduced from the combination of vulnerability map with the sources of pollution map.