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Groundwater vulnerability map of the Chrzanów karst-fissured Triassic aquifer (Poland)

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Environmental Geology

Abstract

A map shows intrinsic vulnerability to pollution of the Chrzanów karst-fissured aquifer (273 km2) in the southern part of Poland. This aquifer is intensively drained by numerous intakes and Zn-Pb ore mines. A DRASTIC-type parametric system was applied for groundwater vulnerability evaluation. Vulnerability assessment is based on six factors (depth to groundwater table, lithology of the unsaturated zone, net recharge, hydraulic conductivity of the aquifer, groundwater flow velocity, aquifer thickness). For the final vulnerability map construction at the scale of 1:50,000, a combination of the aquifer simulation model (using MODFLOW) and a geographical information system was applied. Maps of the net recharge, hydraulic conductivity of the aquifer and groundwater flow velocity were derived by aquifer modelling. Based on the vulnerability index (21–182), six relative vulnerability classes were selected. Reliability of the map has been verified.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the State Committee for Scientific Research for providing financial support (project No. 9 T12B 011 16).

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Correspondence to A. J. Witkowski.

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Witkowski, A.J., Rubin, K., Kowalczyk, A. et al. Groundwater vulnerability map of the Chrzanów karst-fissured Triassic aquifer (Poland). Env Geol 44, 59–67 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-002-0735-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-002-0735-4

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