Vulnerability Mapping of a Coastal Aquifer in Qingdao City, China, using Mapinfo and the DRASTIC Approach

The Dagu River aquifer in the NW part of Qingdao city is composed of alluvial sediments. This aquifer is an important source of water indispensable for industrial, urban and agricultural development in Qingdao city, China. The purpose of this study is to perform a groundwater vulnerability assessment on the Dagu River aquifer using the Mapinfo 7.0 geographic information system and the DRASTIC method that serves as a tool for assessment, management and protection of the groundwater quality. Based on soil permeability, depth to water, aquifer hydraulic conductivity, and topography, subjective ratings and variables have been assigned according to the importance of variables on the contamination to groundwater. The results shows that the vulnerability map for the study area classifies almost 61% of area as moderate vulnerability, 27% as high vulnerability, and 12.1% as having low vulnerability.