Center for Spatial Analysis Technologies

Ground-water Pollution Susceptibility

Description The Georgia Geologic Survey has developed a 1:500,000 scale map (GIS database) which shows the relative susceptibility of the shallow water table aquifer in Georgia to pollution from manmade surface sources. Relative susceptibility was derived by generally following the DRASTIC method developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. DRASTIC is a methodology that allows the pollution potential of any hydrogeologic setting to be systematically evaluated, providing a standardized technical basis for environmental decision making using existing data.. Areas within the state of Georgia are classified as having a relatively lower, average, or higher susceptibility to pollution. The pollution susceptibility map was developed using a computer based geographic information system to overlay different natural resource and cultural data bases. The term DRASTIC is an acronym derived from the seven hydrogeologic parameters deemed most influential to pollution susceptibility. They are depth to water(D), net recharge(R), aquifer media(A), soil media(S), topography(T), impact of the vadose zone(I), and hydraulic conductivity(C) of the aquifer. Each factor is incorporated into a relative rating scheme that uses a combination of weights and ratings to produce a numerical value called the DRASTIC Index. The higher an area scores on the index, the more vulnerable or more susceptible the area is believed to be to ground-water pollution.
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U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
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Page Last Modified: Wednesday, 07-Jun-2006 17:06:52 EDT