On Methods for Regional Ground- And Surface Water Protection And Zoning: Application To The Zhangji Case Study Area (China)

Abstract

The main goal of this key-lecture is to introduce an original way of identifying effective and sustainable policies for the management of surface and groundwater, taking into account their relationships with food production and human health, based on the achievements of EU sponsored ManPoRivers project. Concerning water resources management, two main objectives were considered: (1) a geographical zoning methodology valid for both surface and groundwater; and (2) its application a Chinese case-study area. To achieve these objectives management tools have been researched, taking into account the pollution risk, the vulnerability of the area, the modelling of groundwater flow and transport, and the definition of protection zones as mechanisms of water resources protection. The application of the DRASTIC vulnerability assessment method to the fissured-karstic aquifer of the Zhangji area, Xuzhou city is also presented in this key-lecture. By using GIS/Arcinfo, a score was assigned to each parameter and the DRASTIC index for the region was derived. The assessment result enables a preliminary delineation of groundwater vulnerability to pollution in the study area. This tool will help the decision makers to take scientific and effective measures for safeguarding groundwater resources in the area.