Intrinsic vulnerability of groundwater resources in a loess area in northern China

This study employed the DRASTIC method to valuate the vulnerability of groundwater in the loess area, and these were accomplished using the GIS technique. The output map was obtained to determine the vulnerability of groundwater pollution. The results reveal that vulnerability of groundwater in study area is mainly controlled under the depth of groundwater and the thickness of loess. The more thick the loess deposit, the more low vulnerability of groundwater. The vulnerability of groundwater in larger part is under low to moderate vulnerable zones due to widely spreading of loess and its huge thickness. However, the high vulnerable zone related to the residential and industrial distribution. It is a great challenge for the groundwater management.