Groundwater potential mapping and its sustainable management using AHP and FR models in the Jedeb watershed, Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia

ABSTRACT Groundwater potential mapping and its sustainable development are important aspects of the Jedeb watershed due to an increase in groundwater demand and the local population. This study aimed to delineate potential groundwater zones in the Jedeb watershed, using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and frequency ratio (FR) model. Nine thematic layers, including lithology, geomorphology, slope, drainage density, land cover and land use, lineament density, rainfall, soil, and static water level, were considered. The thematic layers obtained were integrated into a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) environment to generate the groundwater potential map. Four classes of groundwater potential have been identified: low, moderate, high, and very high. The low classes represent 12.8% and 7.02%; moderate 25.35% and 34.84%; high 38.8% and 33.11%; and very high 23.05% and 25.03%, for the AHP and FR models, respectively. The result map was also validated by using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve from which result accuracy was obtained is 85.6% and 88.3% for the AHP method and FR method, respectively. The study's validation verified that the FR model produced more efficacious results than the AHP model. This study, will be helpful in providing planners, and decision-makers with rapid decision-making when it comes to managing groundwater resources.