Impact of hydrogeological conditions on groundwater vulnerability in the Songnen Plain, Jilin, China

A robust groundwater ecosystem relies on an accurate and efficient assessment of groundwater vulnerability. Evaluating groundwater’s susceptibility to pollution has proven to be a valuable technique for managing water resources. This study assesses aquifer vulnerability in the Songnen Plain, Jilin Province, China, using the DRASTIC method, which considers seven key factors: groundwater depth (D), recharge (R), aquifer and soil media (A, S), topography (T), vadose zone impact (I), and hydraulic conductivity (C). The evaluation factors selected include burial depth to groundwater, net recharge, aquifer media, soil media, topography, the influence of the vadose zone, hydraulic conductivity, and the aquifer itself. The study reveals that areas with good pollution resistance qualities account for 62.61% of the total evaluation area, representing the majority of the study region. However, certain areas in the northern and western parts of the research area exhibit poor pollution resistance characteristics. This analysis also indicates that the key factors determining vulnerability are net recharge, depth to the water table and the impact of the vadose zone. The findings can serve as a valuable reference for groundwater management authorities.