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Proposed method for groundwater vulnerability mapping in carbonate (karstic) aquifers: the COP method

Application in two pilot sites in Southern Spain

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Abstract

The ‘COP method’ has been developed for the assessment of intrinsic vulnerability of carbonate aquifers in the frame of the European COST Action 620. This method uses the properties of overlying layers above the water table (O factor), the concentration of flow (C factor) and precipitation (P factor) over the aquifer, as the parameters to assess the intrinsic vulnerability of groundwater. This method considers karst characteristics, such as the presence of swallow holes (C factor) and their catchment areas as well as karstic landforms, as factors which decrease the natural protection provided by overlying layers (O factor). The P factor allows for consideration of the spatial and temporal variability of precipitation, which is considered the transport agent of contamination. Two carbonate aquifers in the South of Spain, Sierra de Líbar (a conduit flow system) and Torremolinos (a diffuse flow system), have been selected for the application and validation of the method and the results have been compared with three methods widely applied in different aquifers around the world (AVI, GOD and DRASTIC). Comparisons with these methods and validation tools (hydrogeological data and tracer test) show the advantages of the COP method in the assessment of vulnerability of karstic groundwaters.

Résumé

La méthode “COP” a été développée pour évaluer la vulnérabilité intrinsèque des aquifères carbonatés dans le cadre du programme COST Action 620 de l'Union Européenne. Cette méthode utilise les propriétés des couches situées au dessus de la nappe aquifère (facteur O), la concentration de l'écoulement (facteur C) et les précipitations (facteur P) au dessus de l'aquifère, comme les paramètres de l'évaluation de la vulnérabilité intrinsèque des eaux souterraines. Cette méthode considère les caractéristiques du karst, comme la présence de dépressions en surface (facteur C) et l'étendue de leur bassin versant, ainsi que les formes du paysage karstique, comme des facteurs qui diminuent la protection naturelle apportée par les couches du dessus (facteur O). Le facteur P permet de considérer la variabilité spatiale et temporelle des précipitations, en tant qu'agent de transport de la contamination. Deux aquifères carbonatés du Sud de l'Espagne, la Sierra de Libar (un système à conduit) et Torremolinos (un système d'écoulement diffus), ont été sélectionnés pour l'application et la validation de cette méthode, et les résultats ont été comparés avec trois méthodes assez utilisées sur d'autres aquifères dans le monde (AVI, GOD et DRASTIC). Les comparaisons avec ces trois méthodes et les outils de validation (données hydrogéologues et tests de traçage) montrent les avantages de la méthode COP lors de l'évaluation de la vulnérabilité des eaux souterraines karstiques.

Resumen

El método COP ha sido desarrollado para evaluar y cartografiar la vulnerabilidad intrínseca de los acuíferos carbonáticos en el marco de la Acción Europea COST 620. El método utiliza los siguientes factores: capacidad de protección de la zona no saturada (O), concentración de flujos en superficie (C) y precipitación (P). El método COP tiene en cuenta características tales como la presencia de sumideros kársticos y su cuenca de alimentación y formas exokársticas, porque disminuyen la capacidad de protección natural del agua subterránea dada por las capas suprayacentes (factor O). El factor P tiene en cuenta la variabilidad espacial y temporal de la precipitación, por ser el principal agente que transporta los contaminantes hasta el agua subterránea. El método COP se ha aplicado en dos acuíferos del Sur de España, Sierra de Líbar (acuífero kárstico de flujo por conductos) y Torremolinos (acuífero fisurado de flujo difuso), y los resultados en ambos acuíferos han sido comparados con los resultados obtenidos mediante otros métodos ampliamente utilizados en el mundo (DRASTIC, GOD y AVI). La comparación realizada y las técnicas de validación (datos hidrogeológicos y ensayo de trazadores) ha permitido determinar las ventajas que supone utilizar el método COP en los acuíferos carbonáticos.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all of the participants of the European COST Action 620, for the valuable discussions we had during our meetings. We would also thank both Peter Malik (Geological Survey of Slovak Republic) and an anonymous referee for their constructive input which has improved the original version of this paper. We appreciate very much the English corrections and the improvements done by Simon Neale (Environmental Agency, Wales). This work is a contribution to IGCP 513 Project of UNESCO supported by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (Projects REN2002-01797/HID, REN2003-01580/HID and CGL2005-05427) and the Research Groups of the Junta de Andalucía (RNM-308 and HUM-776).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, University of Málaga, Málaga, 29071, Spain

    J. M. Vías & M. J. Perles

  2. Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, University of Málaga, Málaga, 29071, Spain

    B. Andreo, F. Carrasco, I. Vadillo & P. Jiménez

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  1. J. M. Vías
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  2. B. Andreo
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  3. M. J. Perles
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  4. F. Carrasco
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  5. I. Vadillo
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  6. P. Jiménez
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Correspondence to B. Andreo.

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Vías, J.M., Andreo, B., Perles, M.J. et al. Proposed method for groundwater vulnerability mapping in carbonate (karstic) aquifers: the COP method. Hydrogeol J 14, 912–925 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-006-0023-6

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