Methods and results of groundwater vulnerability evaluation to contamination in the Kampinoski National Park, central Poland

Abstract

Aquifer vulnerability maps are valuable tools for communicating concerns about the level of groundwater pollution hazard to local landuse 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. Assessment was accomplished using U.S. EPA DRASTIC and the residence time in the unsaturated zone of a conservative pollutant. The final DRASTIC values have been grouped into medium (37 % of area) and medium high (52 %) intrinsic vulnerability categories. The residence time in the unsaturated zone is classified in 11 intervals, ranging from 30 days to 30 years, but nearly 75 % of the study area is characterized by intervals from 1 to 3 years.