Comparative analysis of groundwater vulnerability in the Oued Agrioun watershed, northeast Algeria: DRASTIC, GOD, and SINTACS approaches with ROC AUC validation

This study focuses on the Oued Agrioun watershed, a semi-arid region in northeastern Algeria, with the aim of mapping the vulnerability to pollution in order to improve groundwater management. To achieve this, a comprehensive database was compiled from a variety of sources, including geological, hydrogeological, geomorphological, and climatic data, as well as satellite imagery. Three different methods are applied using Geographic Information Systems (GIS): DRASTIC, SINTACS, and GOD. The GOD and SINTACS methods resulted in four main classes of vulnerability: low, medium, high, and very high. In contrast, the DRASTIC model identified three classes: low (2.04%), medium (45.04%) and high (52.93%). ROC curve validation using nitrate concentrations indicates that the SINTACS and GOD methods provide better predictive accuracy than DRASTIC, suggesting that a combination of these approaches provides a more robust assessment of the vulnerability of subterranean waters. This study provides valuable data to guide future policy decisions aimed at protecting groundwater resources in the Oued Agrioun watershed.This study focuses on the Oued Agrioun watershed, a semi-arid region in northeastern Algeria, with the aim of mapping vulnerability to pollution in order to improve groundwater management. To achieve this, a comprehensive database was compiled from a variety of sources, including geological, hydrogeological, geomorphological, and climatic data, as well as satellite imagery. Three different methods are applied using Geographic Information Systems (GIS): DRASTIC, SINTACS, and GOD. The GOD and SINTACS methods resulted in four main classes of vulnerability: low, medium, high, and very high. In contrast, the DRASTIC model identified three classes: low (2.04%), medium (45.04%), and high (52.93%). Validation by ROC curve using nitrate concentrations indicates that the SINTACS and GOD methods provide better predictive accuracy than DRASTIC, suggesting that a combination of these approaches provides a more robust assessment of the vulnerability of groundwater resources. This study provides valuable data to guide future policy decisions aimed at protecting groundwater resources in the Oued Agrioun watershed.