Characterizing the water quality and contamination level of groundwater Along the Ceil Zarqa River Using the Fuzzy Logic Approach in GIS Environment

William Bajjali (wbajjali@nets.com.jo)
Institute of Archeology and Anthropology & Department of Earth and
Environmental Science, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan

GIS system was used to analyze, interpret and manage the quality of groundwater and characterize the most vulnerable locations for contamination along the groundwater flow path between the capital Amman and Zarqa areas.

To perform the study various geological, hydrogeological, wells, chemical, and environmental isotopes data digitized, georeferenced and integrated into GIS system.

Three parameters Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), NO3, and radioactive tritium (3H) were used as an input function to characterize the hydrochemistry, quality, and the residence time of the groundwater along the flow path. Three color-coded maps represented the TDS, NO3, and 3H were created. Each map demonstrates the distribution and describes the level of each parameter in the
groundwater along the flow path.

The results show that significant variations occur in groundwater chemistry for the TDS and NO3- concentrations. These elevated values at various locations are attributed mainly to anthropogenic sources located in the study area such as, Ain Ghazal wastewater treatment plant, septic tanks, and Ruseifa landfill.
These contaminants have severely deteriorated the quality of groundwater of the upper carbonate aquifer. The presence of radioactive tritium in the groundwater shows that the residence time of the groundwater ranges between 1 and 50 years. Some groundwater wells of specific location demonstrate tritium levels equal to the tritium level of the precipitation in measured in Amman area, which indicates direct infiltration. These groundwater wells are also reveals high NO3 and TDS concentration.

The three maps were combined using a fuzzy logic model and a new color map was created. The map reveals the susceptibility of the aquifer to contamination at various locations along the groundwater flow path.

These GIS maps provide significant environmental information that could be used to manage the groundwater resources and protecting them from further contamination. The produced GIS color-coded map could also be used as a key factor in the public awareness and to promote the value of groundwater.
Teachings are an important step that could lead to improve the consciousness of the population about the water and its value for life and for future generation.