Karst groundwater protection: First application of a Pan-European Approach to vulnerability, hazard and risk mapping in the Sierra de Líbar (Southern Spain)

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 357; no. 1; pp. 54 - 73
• Main Authors: Andreo, Bartolomé, Goldscheider, Nico, Vadillo, Iñaki, Vías, Jesús María, Neukum, Christoph, Sinreich, Michael, Jiménez, Pablo, Brechenmacher, Julia, Carrasco, Francisco, Hötzl, Heinz, Perles, María Jesús, Zwahlen, François
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier B.V 15-03-2006; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Conservation of Natural Resources; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Enterobacteriaceae; Exact sciences and technology; Feces - microbiology; Geological Phenomena; Geology; Groundwaters; Hydrocarbons, Aromatic; Hydrology. Hydrogeology; Intrinsic vulnerability; Karst; Natural water pollution; Pan-European Approach; Pollution; Risk Assessment; Sierra de Líbar; Spain; Specific vulnerability; Water Pollutants; Water resources; Water Supply; Water treatment and pollution; Europe; Spain; Spain, Andalucia; Spain, Andalusia; Pan-European Approach; Intrinsic vulnerability; Specific vulnerability; Sierra de Líbar; Karst; Risk assessment; Cartography; Hydrocarbon; Microbiology; Escherichia coli; Water resource management; Aquifers; Aquifer vulnerability; Hydrogeology; Pathogenic; Bacteria; Aromatic compound; Water pollution; Spécifie vulnerability; Biological contamination; Organic compounds; Enterobacteriaceae; Ground water; Environmental protection
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2005.05.019

The European COST action 620 proposed a comprehensive approach to karst groundwater protection, comprising methods of intrinsic and specific vulnerability mapping, validation of vulnerability maps, hazard and risk mapping. This paper presents the first application of all components of this Pan-European Approach to the Sierra de Líbar, a karst hydrogeology system in Andalusia, Spain. The intrinsic vulnerability maps take into account the hydrogeological characteristics of the area but are independent from specific contaminant properties. Two specific vulnerability maps were prepared for faecal coliforms and BTEX. These maps take into account the specific properties of these two groups of contaminants and their interaction with the karst hydrogeological system. The vulnerability assessment was validated by means of tracing tests, hydrological, hydrochemical and isotope methods. The hazard map shows the localization of potential contamination sources resulting from human activities, and evaluates those according to their dangerousness. The risk of groundwater contamination depends on the hazards and the vulnerability of the aquifer system. The risk map for the Sierra de Líbar was thus created by overlaying the hazard and vulnerability maps.