Avaliação da vulnerabilidade da águas subterrânea em aquíferos fraturados de regiões áridas

ABSTRACT: Groundwater is the main water source of semi-arid regions. In these areas, it’s crucial to establish appropriate strategies for evaluating the vulnerability of aquifer systems and their potential exposure to contamination, especially in fractured aquifers, which possess a naturally high vulnerability. The aquifer system from Gabès region, southeastern Tunisia, is a fractured medium exposed to intensive agricultural activities with excessive fertilizer use. This study introduces a novel vulnerability index by incorporating the contribution of medium into the DRASTIC vulnerability method. The obtained results reveal the presence of zones with different degrees of vulnerability: very low (9.6%), low (15%), moderate (22.9%), high (21.5%), and very high vulnerability (31%). The spatial distribution of this new vulnerability index proves to be a valuable tool for effective groundwater management and the identification of suitable locations for new wells and boreholes in the region of Gabès.