Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Assessment of groundwater vulnerability to pollution in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia using DRASTIC

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Assessment of groundwater vulnerability to pollution is an effective tool for the delineation of groundwater protection zones. DRASTIC approach was used to determine vulnerability zones in Dire Dawa groundwater basin, a semiarid region of Ethiopia. Maps of the seven DRASTIC parameters were prepared. GIS-ArcView was used for mapping and performing weighted-overlay analysis. The result of the analysis indicated that eastern part of the study area, in which Dire Dawa town is located, is highly vulnerable. A low aquifer vulnerability class was determined for the western portion of the study area as a result of greater groundwater depths, higher relative soil-clay content, and relatively low recharge rates for this area. The area between the two zones is of medium vulnerability. Observed nitrate concentrations in boreholes are in accordance with the vulnerability map. Some of the boreholes in the Sabian well field (Dire Dawa area) already deliver groundwater with nitrate levels significantly exceeding health standards set by the World Health Organization, while boreholes in the western part (low vulnerability zone) contain almost no nitrate. The result of this study is useful for risk assessments and for the development of effective groundwater management strategies for this region and others like it.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aller L, Bennet T, Lehr JH, Petty RJ, Hacket G (1987) DRASTIC: a standardized system for evaluating ground water pollution potential using hydrogeologic settings. US Environmental Protection Agency Report (EPA/600/2-87/035), Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory, pp 455

  • Baalousha H (2006) Vulnerability assessment for the Gaza Strip, Palestine, using DRASTIC. Environ Geol 50:405–414

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Batelaan O, De Smedt F (2001) WetSpass: a flexible, GIS based, distributed recharge methodology for regional groundwater modelling. In: Gehrels H, Peters J, Hoehn E, Jensen K, Leibundgut C, Griffioen J, Webb B, Zaadnoordijk W-J (eds) Impact of human activity on groundwater dynamics, vol 269. IAHS, Wallingford, pp 11–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Batelaan O, De Smedt F (2007) GIS-based recharge estimation by coupling surface–subsurface water balances. J Hydrol 337:337–355

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Commission on Geosciences, Environment, Resources (2000) Natural attenuation to groundwater remediation. National Academy Press, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Da Silva Jr GC, Pizani TC (2003) Vulnerability assessment in coastal aquifers of Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. Revista Latino-Americana de Hidrogeologia, no. 3, pp 93–98

  • ESRI (2000) Model builder, spatial analyst 2.0, ArcView GIS. Environmental Systems Research Institute, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Foster SSD (1998) Groundwater recharge and pollution vulnerability of British aquifers: a critical review. In: Robins NS (ed) Groundwater pollution, aquifer recharge and vulnerability. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, vol 130, pp 7–22

  • Fritch TG, McKnight CL, Yelderman JC, Arnold JG (2000) An aquifer vulnerability assessment of the Paluxy Aquifer, central Texas, USA using GIS and a modified DRASTIC approach. Environ Manag 25:337–345

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ibe KM, Nwankwor GI, Onyekuru SO (2001) Assessment of ground water vulnerability and its application to the development of protection strategy for the water supply aquifer in Owerri, Southeastern Nigeria. Environ Monit Assess 67:323–360

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kebede T, Selomon W, Shiferaw L, Abebe G (2004) Groundwater management using groundwater modeling; case study Akaki well field, Addis Ababa. In: Proceeding of the international conference and exhibition on groundwater in Ethiopia. (available online at http://www.uneca.org/groundwater/Docs/AAWSA%20Paper-NO-43.pdf)

  • Lynch SD, Reynders AG, Schulze RE (1997) A DRASTIC approach to groundwater vulnerability in South Africa. S Afr J Sci 93:59–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Morris BL, Lawrence AR, Chilton PJ, Adams B, Calow RC, Klinck BA (2003) Groundwater and its susceptibility to degradation, a global assessment of the problem and options for management. United Nations Environment Programme, Nairobi (unpublished)

  • Padagett D (1994) Using DRASTIC to improve the integrity of geographical information system data used for solid waste management facility sitting, a case study. Environ Prof 16:211–219

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosen L (1994) A study of the DRASTIC methodology with emphasis on Swedish conditions. Ground Water 32:278–286

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tamiru A (2004) Assessment of pollution status and groundwater vulnerability mapping of the Addis Ababa water supply aquifers, Ethiopia. (available online at http://www.unep.org/groundwaterproject/Countries/Ethiopia/Report/Nov2004.pdf) (unpublished)

  • Taye A (1988) Pollution of the hydrogeologic system of Dire Dawa groundwater basin. (available online at http://www.lboro.ac.uk/wedc/papers/25/200) (unpublished)

  • Tertilt K, Merkel B (1993) Simulation der grundwassergefährdung mit hilfe hybrider GIS-technologie. Geo Informations Syst 6(4):1–6 (in German)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tilahun K, Merkel JB (2009) Estimation of groundwater recharge using a GIS-based distributed water balance model in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia. Hydrogeol J (in press)

  • WWDSE (2002) Dire Dawa administrative council, integrated resource development master plan study project, water resources study, vol I, hydrogeology, inception report, May 2002, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (unpublished)

  • WWDSE (2004) Dire Dawa administrative council, integrated resource development master plan study project, vol III: hydrogeology, final report, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (unpublished)

Download references

Acknowledgments

The first author is Alexander von Humboldt foundation research fellow at the Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg (Germany). The foundation is, therefore, highly acknowledged. Dire Dawa water supply and sewerage authority, Ethiopian water works design and supervision enterprise, Harar water supply project, National meteorological services agency, and Mr Million Solomon are acknowledged for the data used in this study.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Ketema Tilahun

    Present address: Department of Hydrogeology, Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg, Gustav-Zeuner-Straße 12, 09596, Freiberg, Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hydrogeology, Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg, Gustav-Zeuner-Straße 12, 09596, Freiberg, Germany

    Broder J. Merkel

  2. School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Locked Bag 588, Wagga Wagga, NSW, 2678, Australia

    Ketema Tilahun

Authors
  1. Ketema Tilahun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Broder J. Merkel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ketema Tilahun.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tilahun, K., Merkel, B.J. Assessment of groundwater vulnerability to pollution in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia using DRASTIC. Environ Earth Sci 59, 1485–1496 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-009-0134-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-009-0134-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation