Groundwater vulnerability assessment based on modified DRASTIC model: a case study in Changli County, China

Groundwater vulnerability assessment has been regarded as the initial step to understand and evaluate the susceptibility of the subsurface to contamination. As one of the most widely used models, the DRASTIC has been applied worldwide. However, problems associated with the model, such as the subjectivity in rating and weighting schemes, have led to modified versions of this model for better representing the vulnerability of the aquifer. In this study, a modified DRASTIC model was formulated by adjusting the rating and weighting scores based on Wilcoxon rank-sum test and Analytic Hierarchy Process. The modified model was then applied to the evaluation of groundwater vulnerability in Changli County, China in a GIS environment. The validity of the model was verified by analysing the correlation coefficient between the vulnerability index and the nitrate concentration. The results revealed that the modified DRASTIC model presents stronger correlation with the nitrate contamination than the traditional DRASTIC model.