Abstract

Aquifer vulnerability maps are valuable tools for communicating concerns about the level of groundwater pollution hazard to local land use planners and to the general public. Groundwater vulnerability to contamination in the Kampinoski National Park (KNP) area in central Poland was evaluated as a basis for developing appropriate protection strategy for the groundwater resources and management in recreation areas located near Warsaw. Kampinoski National Park (KNP) and its lagging are located in central Poland in the valley of the Vistula River. Assessment of groundwater vulnerability was accomplished using U.S. EPA DRASTIC. Region of the Vistula valley is characterized by medium (324 km²) and moderately high (229 km²) intrinsic vulnerability to contamination. The DRASTIC method was used to assess specific vulnerability to contamination, taking into account additional parameters defining a potential risk of threat of groundwater connected with land development. The area of studies is characterised by a moderately high (340 km²) and medium (247 km²) specific vulnerability to contamination. The DRASTIC method has been applied to assess the specific vulnerability of groundwater to nitrate, basing on the possible impact of land development. Land development is analysed in the aspect of possible, potential contamination of groundwater with nitrate, but also a possibility of protecting waters before any potential contamination. The area of studies is characterised by low (426 km²) and medium (136 km²) specific vulnerability to contamination with nitrate. Use of GIS techniques and geo-statistical methods during the development of the vulnerability made possible a more precise assignment of the parameter values and, subsequently, allowed for a more accurate distinction of vulnerability types.

Keywords: Groundwater vulnerability; Specific vulnerability; Intrinsic vulnerability; DRASTIC; River valley; Poland