Land‐Surface Zoning for Groundwater Protection

Abstract

ABSTRACT A procedure for land‐surface zoning, related to the protection of groundwater against both point and diffuse pollution, is described. The procedure is based upon two independent elements: (i) Division of the entire land surface on the basis of the aquifer pollution vulnerability, which relates to protection of groundwater resources; and (ii) A series of special protection areas for individual sources, in which various potentially polluting activities are either prohibited or strictly controlled. The procedure is hydrogeologically based, but not so complex as to be unworkable in practice. For resource protection three classes of formation type are defined, with a further subdivision on the basis of depth to saturated aquifer. In the case of diffuse pollution, it will also be necessary to consider the nature of the soil cover in the area where the polluting activity occurs. For source protection, up to four special protection areas are specified, and the criteria used to define them are discussed.