Introduction to vulnerability and risk mapping for the protection of carbonate (karst) aquifers

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Publication Date

January 2003

Abstract

Carbonate (karst) terrains comprise one third at the land area ot Europe. Karst aquifers hold important groundwater resources supplying up to 50 % of drinking water in some countries. At the same time, karst aquifers are particularly vulnerable to contamination. Therefore, COST Action 620 was established to develop an approach for the protection of karst groundwater, which takes into account the characteristics of karst, but which can, however, also be used for other aquifer types. The project was given impetus by the European Water Framework Directive, which provides a common framework for water resource policy and management. The approach is applicable for both groundwater resource and source protection. It comprises methods of intrinsic and specific vulnerability mapping, hazard and risk mapping, and validation. Intrinsic vulnerability only considers the hydrogeological properties of the system whilst specific vulnerability considers, in addition, the specific interactions with particular contaminants. Hazards are sources of contamination resulting from human activities. The synthesis of all those aspects creates risk maps. The new approach was tested in 11 European karst areas, covering a wide range of possible climatic and hydrogeological settings.

Document Type

Article

Language

English

Identifier

SFS0072315_00001

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