Comparative study for assessing vulnerability to pollution in El Asnam plain, North of Algeria

Assessment of groundwater contamination is an efficient means to discover and carry out the demarcation of the more vulnerable zones to pollution from human activities. This study is focused on the plain of El Asnam (Northern Algeria) characterized by intensive agricultural activities. To protect the groundwater from pollution, it is necessary to determine vulnerable areas. This paper aims to generate groundwater vulnerability map using two models: DRASTIC and Susceptibility Index (SI) associated with the geographic information system (GIS) of El Asnam plain aquifer. The validation of these models to pollution was performed by comparing the nitrate distribution across the area with the classes of vulnerability and has proved that the SI model is the more valid one with 50% of the study area. Considering these results, the SI model may serve as an effective means to help the protection of groundwater and can eventually be used by decision makers and groundwater managers.