Forum Geografi, 33(2), 2019; DOI: 10.23917/forgeo.v33i2.7672
Groundwater vulnerability to Pollution in Kasihan District, Bantul Regency, Indonesia
Departement of Environmental Geography, Faculty of Geography, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Bulaksumur, Sleman, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia
*) Corresponding Author (e-mail: setyapurna@geo.ugm.ac.id)
Received: 31 January 2019 / Accepted: 19 September 2019 / Published: 27 December 2019
Abstract
The groundwater vulnerability to pollution refers to the ease with which pollutants reach groundwater and, by extension, the risk of potential contamination. This concept shows the probability of pollution, based on the assumption that the physical environment has varying capacities to prevent the flow of pollutants into the aquifer. This study was designed to predict groundwater vulnerability in Bantul Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Besides processing secondary data, it measured the depth of the phreatic surface and slope, and analyzed groundwater samples. The measurement and sampling points were determined by considering the location of previous infiltration measurements conducted by Purnama in 2017. The groundwater vulnerability to pollution in the study area was analyzed using the SINTACS method, which operates on a numerical system of weights and rating scores. Each research parameter was assigned with a weight value according to the significance of its effect on groundwater contamination; each of its variables was then rated or ranked based on its intrinsic vulnerability to pollution. As a result, the groundwater vulnerability index ranged from 117.0 to 189.9, which according to the criteria of the SINTACS method, fell into the categories of medium to fairly high vulnerability. Areas with medium vulnerability were located in the Sentolo Formation (consisting of limestone and grumusol soil), while those with fairly high vulnerability were identified in the Yogyakarta Formation (volcanic rock and regosol soil). These findings indicate that geological aspects and soil type greatly affect the groundwater vulnerability to pollution in the research area.
Key words: vulnerability, groundwater, Bantul Regency
Abstrak
Kerentanan airtanah terhadap pencemaran merujuk pada kemudahan zat pencemar mencapai airtanah, sehingga airtanah akan tercemar. Konsep ini menunjukkan suatu probabilitas bahwa pencemaran akan terjadi, yang pada prinsipnya mendasarkan pada anggapan bahwa lingkungan fisik dapat mencegah aliran zat pencemar ke dalam akuifer. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk memprediksi kerentanan airtanah di daerah penelitian terhadap pencemaran. Untuk mencapai tujuan tersebut, selain mendasarkan dari data sekunder juga dilakukan pengukuran kedalaman muka freatik, kemiringan lereng dan pengambilan sampel airtanah dari sumur observasi. Penentuan lokasi pengukuran dan pengambilan sampel dilakukan dengan mempertimbangkan lokasi pengukuran infiltrasi yang pernah dilakukan oleh Purnama pada Tahun 2017. Untuk melakukan analisis kerentanan airtanah terhadap pencemaran di daerah penelitian dilakukan dengan Metode SINTACS, yang mendasarkan pada sistem numerik berupa bobot dan rating. Bobot ditentukan berdasarkan signifikansi pengaruh parameter terhadap pencemaran airtanah, sedangkan rating ditentukan berdasarkan signifikansi pengaruh variabel dalam masing-masing parameter terhadap pencemaran airtanah. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa nilai indeks kerentanan airtanah di daerah penelitian berkisar dari 117,0 hingga 189,9, yang dalam kriteria Indeks SINTACS tergolong pada tingkat kerentanan sedang dan agak tinggi. Wilayah yang termasuk tingkat kerentanan sedang umumnya terletak pada Formasi Sentolo yang berbatuan gamping dan mempunyai jenis tanah grumusol. Wilayah yang tergolong kelas kerentanan agak tinggi terletak pada Formasi Yogyakarta yang berbatuan vulkanik dan jenis tanah regosol, sehingga aspek geologi dan jenis tanah sangat menentukan tingkat kerentanan airtanah terhadap pencemaran di daerah penelitian.
Kata kunci: kerentanan, airtanah, Kabupaten Bantul
1. Introduction
As the 200 scientists and experts of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) have predicted, water scarcity is the second major problem after climate change that the worldwide community needs to face in the 21st century, along with deforestation/desertification and water pollution as the third and fourth issues. Beside reduced water quantity and quality, uneven spatial and temporal distributions are also other water-related challenges that need to be addressed (IPCC, 2007; Cahyadi et al., 2016; Dibyosaputro et al., 2016; Suprihatin and Martono, 2016; Rushayati et al., 2017). Solutions include the realization of optimal hydrological conditions, namely sufficient good quality water supply, i.e., within the existing standards or requirements for use, and even distribution (Dragoni and Sukhija, 2008; Taniguchi et al., 2010; Haldorsen et al., 2011; Treidel et al., 2011).
Currently, pollution is being increasingly considered in the management of water resources in big cities, following the escalating water problems associated with it. According to Costudio (2011), sources and processes of pollution can be divided into point and non-point sources. Point pollution covers a narrow area and is caused by various activities in the region; for example, leakages from sewer pipes, chemical waste storage, and oil reservoirs. In contrast, non-point pollution covers large areas, such as that due to the use of pesticides or other chemicals in agricultural fields (Hem, 1970; Bianchi & Harter, 2002).
The groundwater vulnerability to pollution has become a theme which has attracted many researchers, and recently there have been various methods to evaluate it. In principle, many of these methods take into account the condition of the region, data availability, and intended use of water (Civita, 2010). The results of groundwater vulnerability assessment do not mean that pollution is inevitable; instead, they are an indication that the observed area is easily polluted (Al-Amoush et al., 2010).
There are three types of vulnerability assessment, namely index and overlay methods, statistical methods and process-based methods (Zhang et al., 1996; Magiera, 2000). According to Liggett & Talwar (2009), the index method is the most popular of these because it is easy to implement and requires fewer data. SINTACS is a method of assessing intrinsic groundwater vulnerability based on index and mapping. It was developed by Civita and De Maio (2004) and is suitable for use in relatively narrow areas, such as a particular district.
Kasihan is a district in Bantul Regency, with a periphery that stretches from the southwest to south of the City of Yogyakarta. It has been suffering from the impact of the sprawling development of the city, including population growth, expansion of residential areas, and rapid structural developments. Currently, it has a population density of 29 people per hectare and a population growth rate of 2.53%, which inevitably generates a soaring amount of domestic waste. Moreover, the hydraulic gradient of the groundwater basin causes groundwater, and any pollutants that it carries, to move from the city in the north to the district in the south. Accordingly, the groundwater in Kasihan District has potentially high vulnerability to pollution. For this reason, the study applies SINTACS to estimate the vulnerability of the groundwater to contamination and to analyze the most influential factors in Kasihan District.
2. Research Methods
2.1. Data Collection
The study used primary data; i.e., phreatic depth, slope and groundwater quality parameters. The phreatic depth and slope measurements and groundwater sampling were conducted in observation wells that were selected by purposive sampling based on the location of the infiltration measurements conducted by Purnama (2016). Depth to water table was measured with a measuring tape stretched from ground level to the surface of the water in each well. Surface slopes were determined with an Abney level on the areas surrounding each well. The water samples were collected in sample bottles and then analyzed at the Laboratory of Environmental Hydrology and Climatology, Faculty of Geography, Universitas Gadjah Mada. The laboratory test focused on analyzing one chemical element, namely nitrate (NO3).
2.2. Data Analysis
The primary data were processed in SINTACS to identify the groundwater vulnerability in the study area. This is a numerical system that operates on parameter weights and rating scores. Each research parameter was given a weight string or value depending on the significance of its effect on groundwater pollution, and each of its variables was assigned a rating score that defined its intrinsic vulnerability to contamination. The groundwater pollution parameter variables and their rating scores are presented in Table 1.
The SINTACS index was calculated from the weighted parameters and ranked or rated variables using equation 1:
ISINTACS = ∑7i=1 Ri x Wi .......................................................(1)
where ISINTACS is the groundwater vulnerability index, R is the rating of each variable in each parameter, and W is the weight of each parameter, as shown in Table 2.
Phreatic Depth (m) |
Infiltration (mm/hour) |
Aeration Condition |
Soil Texture |
Aquifer Media |
Hydraulic Conductivity (m/det) |
Slope (%) |
|||||||
Class |
Rating |
Class |
Rating |
Type of Rock |
Rating |
Texture |
Rating |
Type of Rock |
Rating |
Value |
Rating |
Class |
Rating |
0.0-2.0 |
10.0 |
< 1 |
1.0 |
Coarse alluvial sediment |
6 – 10 |
Clay |
1-1.5 |
Coarse alluvial sediment |
8 – 9 |
3.9 x 10-6 - 5.5 x 10-6 |
4.5 |
0-2 |
9.5 |
2.0-2.5 |
9.0 |
1-5 |
2.0 |
Karst limestone |
8 – 10 |
Silty clay |
1.5-2.0 |
Karst limestone |
9 – 10 |
5.5 x 10-6 - 1.0 x 10-5 |
5.0 |
2-4 |
8.5 |
2.5-3.5 |
8.5 |
5-20 |
3.0 |
Fractured limestone |
4 – 8 |
Loamy clay |
2.0-3.0 |
Fractured limestone |
6 – 9 |
1.0 x 10-5 - 1.8 x 10-5 |
5.5 |
4-6 |
7.5 |
3.5-4.5 |
8.0 |
20-65 |
4.0 |
Slit dolomite |
2 – 5 |
Silty loam clay |
3.0-4.0 |
Slit dolomite |
4 – 7 |
1.8 x 10-5 - 3.0 x 10-5 |
6.0 |
6-9 |
6.5 |
4.5-5.0 |
7.5 |
65-125 |
5.0 |
Fine-moderate alluvial sediment |
3 – 6 |
Loamy silt |
3.5-4.0 |
Fine-moderate alluvial sediment |
6 – 8 |
3.0 x 10-5 - 5.0 x 10-5 |
6.5 |
9-12 |
5.5 |
5.0-6.0 |
7.0 |
125-250 |
6.0 |
Sand |
4 – 7 |
Loam |
4.0-5.0 |
Sand |
7 – 9 |
5.0 x 10-5 - 9.0 x 10-5 |
7.0 |
12-15 |
4.5 |
6.0-7.0 |
6.5 |
> 250 |
7.0 |
Sandstone, conglomerate |
5 – 8 |
Sandy loam clay |
4.5-5.0 |
Sandstone, conglomerate |
4 – 9 |
9.0 x 10-5 - 1.5 x 10-4 |
7.5 |
15-18 |
3.5 |
7.0-8.0 |
6.0 |
|
|
Turbiditic sequences |
2 – 5 |
Sandy loam |
5.5-6.0 |
Turbiditic sequences |
5 – 8 |
1.5 x 10-4 - 2.0 x 10-4 |
7.75 |
18-21 |
2.5 |
8.0-9.0 |
5.5 |
|
|
Slit volcanic |
5 – 10 |
Sandy clay |
6.3-7.0 |
Slit volcanic |
8 – 10 |
2.0 x 10-4 - 3.0 x 10-4 |
8.0 |
21-25 |
1.5 |
9.0-10.0 |
5.0 |
|
|
Marl, claystone |
1 – 3 |
Peat |
7.5-8.0 |
Marl, claystone |
1 – 3 |
3.0 x 10-4 - 4.5 x 10-4 |
8.25 |
25-30 |
1.0 |
10.0-13.0 |
4.5 |
|
|
Clay, silt, peat |
1 – 2 |
Sandy silt |
8.0-8.5 |
Clay, silt, peat |
1 – 3 |
4.5 x 10-4 - 6.0 x 10-4 |
8.5 |
|
|
13.0-17.0 |
4.0 |
|
|
Pyroclastic rock |
2 – 5 |
Fine sand |
9.0-9.5 |
Pyroclastic rock |
4 – 8 |
6.0 x 10-4 - 1.0 x 10-3 |
8.75 |
|
|
17.0-20.0 |
3.5 |
|
|
Slit metamorphose |
2 - 6 |
Fine gravel |
9.5-10.0 |
Slit metamorphose |
2 - 5 |
1.0 x 10-3 - 1.5 x 10-3 |
9.0 |
|
|
20.0-25.0 |
3.0 |
|
|
|
|
Thin soil |
10.0 |
|
|
1.5 x 10-3 – 2.5 x 10-3 |
9.25 |
|
|
25.0-30.0 |
2.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.5 x 10-3 – 4.5 x 10-3 |
9.5 |
|
|
30.0-40.0 |
2.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4.5 x 10-3 – 4.0 x 10-2 |
9.75 |
|
|
>40.0 |
1.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sources: Al-Amoush et al. (2010), Majandang & Sarapirome (2013), Lee (1990).
Weighting Scenario |
S |
I |
N |
T |
A |
C |
S |
Normal impact |
5 |
4 |
5 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Relevant impact |
5 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
Drainage from surficial network |
4 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
5 |
5 |
2 |
Karst impact |
2 |
5 |
1 |
3 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
Fissured impact |
3 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
4 |
Source: Civita & De Maio (2004).
A normal impact scenario was used to represent the research location, which had two primary sources of contaminants, residential areas and agricultural practices characterised by the application of fertilizers. The calculation of weights and rating scores produced a groundwater vulnerability index, as presented in Table 3. Subsequently, this index was tested for its validity or representativeness of the real conditions in the field by collecting groundwater samples from each observation well and analyzing the nitrate concentration of each of these in the laboratory.
Interval of Vulnerability Index |
Vulnerability Level |
< 80 |
Very Low |
80 – <105 |
Low |
105 – <140 |
Medium |
140 – <186 |
Rather High |
186 – 210 |
High |
>210 |
Very High |
Sources: Civita and De Maio (2004), Al Kuisi et al. (2006).
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Results
3.1.1. Location
Kasihan District is located at 114o22'24"-114o24'45"E and 7o42'20"-7o45'24"S. Administratively, it covers 3,238 ha and consists of four villages, namely Bangunjiwo (1,543 ha), Tirtonirmolo (513 ha), Tamantirto (672 ha) and Ngestiharjo (510 ha). It is bordered by Godean and Gamping Districts to the north, Bantul District to the south, Sewon District and Yogyakarta City to the east, and Pajangan District to the west.
3.1.2. Geology, Soil and Hydrogeology
Based on the geological map compiled by Rahardjo et al. (1995) there are two rock formations in Bantul, Kasihan District, namely the Yogyakarta Formation (volcanic rock) and the Sentolo Formation (limestone). According to Purnama (2013), the district also has two types of soil, which according to the Bogor LPT soil classification are regosol and grumusol (Figure 1).
Previous research by the Faculty of Geography, Universitas Gadjah Mada (2014) suggests that the eastern and northern parts of Kasihan District belong to the Merapi Aquifer System (MAS) or Yogyakarta Formation (Qa), which is a multilayered aquifer that has relatively homogeneous and interconnected hydraulic properties, transmissivity ranging from 894-1,400 m2/day, and specific yields of 22-28.8%. The groundwater in this aquifer system flows to the south with increasingly smaller hydraulic gradients. Compared to the city in the north, the district has thinner aquifer layers owing to the limestone outcrops in the Sentolo Formation (the base of the Yogyakarta Formation) (Figure 2).
3.1.3. Groundwater Vulnerability to Pollution
The groundwater vulnerability to pollution refers to the ease with which pollutants reach the groundwater and, by extension, the risk of potential contamination. This concept shows a probability of pollution, which, in principle, is based on the assumption that physical environments can intrinsically prevent the flow of pollutants into the aquifer. Groundwater vulnerability is commonly expressed in an index or presented on a map, which can be used to identify areas that are threatened by pollution. According to Al-Kuisi et al. (2006), prevention of contamination is one aspect of groundwater management.
SINTACS is a modification of DRASTIC, a method to predict groundwater vulnerability to pollution. According to Civita and De Maio (2004), SINTACS is an abbreviation for seven parameters (in Italian) representing environmental settings that define the intrinsic groundwater vulnerability to pollution, namely S for Soggiacenza (lit. depth to water table), I for Infiltrazione (a constant infiltration rate), N for Non saturo (the condition of an aeration zone), T for Tipologia della copertura (soil texture), A for Acquifero (aquifer media), C for Conducibilità (hydraulic conductivity), and S for Superficie topografica (topography/slope). The calculated parameters of the SINTACS index in the study area are shown in Table 4.
The depth to water table determines the distance between the ground and the surface of the groundwater. This distance controls the time pollutants need to travel to the groundwater. Because the research subject is unconfined aquifers, depth to water tables indicate phreatic depth from the ground level. In SINTACS, the deeper the phreatic zone, the lower the rating score. Measurements in the field indicated that the phreatic depth ranged from 4.64 m to 12.47 m, hence the assigned rating scores were 4.5 to 7.5.
The infiltration rate regulates the ease of contaminant absorption into the soil, and from the soil surface to the aquifer. A low rate of infiltration means that pollutants cannot easily reach the groundwater. In contrast, a fast rate allows pollutants to seep through soils and reach the groundwater without significant obstacles or delay. In this study, the constant infiltration rate was based on the infiltration data used in Purnama et al. (2013). The results show that this rate varied between 6 and 732 mm/hour, meaning the rating scores were between 3 and 7.
No. of Well |
Depth of Phreatic (m) |
Infiltration (mm/hour) |
Aeration Condition |
Soil Texture |
Aquifer Media |
Hydraulic Conductivity (m/s) |
Slope |
|||||||
Depth |
Rating |
Inf. |
Rating |
Type |
Rating |
Soil Texture |
Rating |
Type |
Rating |
Value |
Rating |
Class |
Rating |
|
1 |
8.29 |
5.5 |
132 |
6 |
Sand |
5.5 |
Sandy clay |
6.6 |
Sand |
8 |
1.4 x 10-4 |
7.5 |
0.00 |
9.5 |
2 |
7.08 |
6 |
12 |
3 |
Sand |
5.5 |
Sandy clay |
6.6 |
Sand |
8 |
1.4 x 10-4 |
7.5 |
0.00 |
9.5 |
3 |
4.53 |
7.5 |
6 |
3 |
Clay |
1.5 |
Silty loam clay |
3.5 |
Fractured limestone |
7.5 |
1.1 x 10-5 |
5.5 |
4.44 |
7.5 |
4 |
10.10 |
4.5 |
228 |
6 |
Sand |
5.5 |
Sandy clay |
6.6 |
Sand |
8 |
1.4 x 10-4 |
7.5 |
0.00 |
9.5 |
5 |
8.36 |
5.5 |
732 |
7 |
Sand |
5.5 |
Fine sand |
9.3 |
Sand |
8 |
1.4 x 10-4 |
7.5 |
0.00 |
9.5 |
6 |
7.23 |
6 |
48 |
4 |
Clay |
1.5 |
Silty loam clay |
3.5 |
Fractured limestone |
7.5 |
1.1 x 10-5 |
5.5 |
2.22 |
8.5 |
7 |
12.47 |
4.5 |
6 |
3 |
Clay |
1.5 |
Silty loam clay |
3.5 |
Fractured limestone |
7.5 |
1.1 x 10-5 |
5.5 |
2.22 |
8.5 |
8 |
4.97 |
7.5 |
108 |
5 |
Sand |
5.5 |
Sandy clay |
6.6 |
Sand |
8 |
1.4 x 10-4 |
7.5 |
0.00 |
9.5 |
9 |
4.64 |
7.5 |
24 |
4 |
Clay |
1.5 |
Silty loam clay |
3.5 |
Fractured limestone |
7.5 |
1.1 x 10-5 |
5.5 |
6.67 |
6.5 |
Source: Data Analysis
An aeration zone is a hydrogeological system functioning as a barrier to pollutants in impermeable layers. Clay is impermeable; in other words, it can prevent the flow of contaminants. For this reason, it had a low rating score. Meanwhile, sand is porous and was therefore assigned a high score. Based on the observation results in the field, the study area is composed of sand and clay. The Yogyakarta Formation (volcanic rock) has a sandy texture, while the Sentolo Formation (limestone) has a clay texture. In SINTACS, sand-textured materials were rated 5.5, whereas clays were 1.5.
Unconsolidated materials are usually classified by size and distribution. Most systems are based on particle size or grain. Soil texture is a combination of sand, silt and clay content, meaning that it is controlled by the percentage of these three elements. It regulates the ease with which water and pollutants, if any, pass through the soil layers. The study area has various soil textures, namely sandy clay, silt clay and fine sand. Accordingly, the assigned rating scores were 6.6, 3.5 and 9.3.
Aquifer media play a role in determining the rate at which the pollutants mix with groundwater (Tamod et al., 2016). Within an aquifer, several chemical processes occur, such as dissolution and pollutant-rock interaction. There are two types of aquifer in the study area, namely fractured sand and limestone, with rating scores of 8 and 7.5 respectively.
Hydraulic conductivity measures the ability of rocks or soils to transmit fluid (Fetter, 1988; Wanielista et al., 1997; Rushton, 2003; Todd & Mays, 2005; Davie, 2008). High hydraulic conductivity means that contaminants can flow more quickly than in rock materials with low hydraulic conductivity. Compared with other rocks, sands have higher hydraulic conductivity and consequently high rating scores. The research area is composed of sand and limestone material; therefore, the rating scores in SINTACS were 7.5 and 5.5.
Slope gradient plays a vital role in accelerating or decelerating the flow of contaminants into the ground. A steep slope makes pollutants flow rapidly and allows only a few of them to infiltrate into the soil. Conversely, a flat slope makes fluid flow at a slow rate, giving the pollutants a prolonged chance to infiltrate. Therefore, steep slopes were assigned with low rating scores, whereas gently sloping terrain had high rating scores. The topographic conditions in the study area are widely diverse, from flat to undulating, so the rating scores also varied considerably, from 6.5 to 9.5.
3.2. SINTACS Index Analysis
Because each parameter has different effects on pollution, their assigned weights are not equal. For normal impact scenarios, phreatic depth had a weight of 4 and aeration 5, while soil texture, aquifer media, hydraulic conductivity, and slope were each assigned with a weight value of 3. Furthermore, the groundwater vulnerability index for each of the nine measurement and observation points was calculated using the rating scores and weights of the research parameters (Table 5). The results show a variation in the groundwater vulnerability index, from 117.0 to 189.9. Four locations were classified as having medium vulnerability, while the other five areas fell into the category of fairly high vulnerability. This information was processed into the Map of Groundwater Vulnerability to Pollution (Figure 3). The results are consistent with Al-Shatnawi et al. (2016), who found that areas with medium vulnerability to pollution had a SINTACS index of 97-128.
However, the effects of depth to water table on groundwater vulnerability pollution in this study differ from the results of Al Kuisi et al. (2006), who suggested that high vulnerability was attributable to shallow water depth, i.e., from a few meters to 10m below the ground, and a high rate of recharge. In Kasihan District, the depth to water table did not exhibit any correlations with groundwater vulnerability. Nevertheless, the results of this study are in line with those of Leal et al. (2012), which proved that high vulnerability values were associated with a high pollution source index.
No. |
S (weight 5) |
I (weight 4) |
N (weight 5) |
T (weight 3) |
A (weight 3) |
C (weight 3) |
S (weight 3) |
Vulnerability Index |
Vulnerability Level |
1 |
27.5 |
24 |
27.5 |
19.8 |
24 |
22.5 |
28.5 |
173.8 |
Fairly high |
2 |
30 |
12 |
27.5 |
19.8 |
24 |
22.5 |
28.5 |
164.3 |
Fairly high |
3 |
37.5 |
12 |
7.5 |
10.5 |
22.5 |
16.5 |
22.5 |
129.0 |
Medium |
4 |
22.5 |
24 |
27.5 |
19.8 |
24 |
22.5 |
28.5 |
168.8 |
Fairly high |
5 |
27.5 |
28 |
27.5 |
27.9 |
24 |
22.5 |
28.5 |
185.9 |
Fairly high |
6 |
30 |
16 |
7.5 |
10.5 |
22.5 |
16.5 |
25.5 |
128.5 |
Medium |
7 |
22.5 |
12 |
7.5 |
10.5 |
22.5 |
16.5 |
25.5 |
117.0 |
Medium |
8 |
37.5 |
20 |
27.5 |
19.8 |
24 |
22.5 |
28.5 |
179.8 |
Fairly high |
9 |
37.5 |
16 |
7.5 |
10.5 |
22.5 |
16.5 |
19.5 |
130.0 |
Medium |
Source: Calculation Results
Figure 3 shows that areas with medium groundwater vulnerability are located in the Sentolo Formation, which is composed of limestone and has grumusol soils. In addition, fairly high vulnerability can be found in the Yogyakarta Formation, with volcanic rock and regosol soils. In other words, geology and soil significantly determine the level of groundwater vulnerability to pollution in the study area.
3.3. Validation of the Calculation and Analysis Results
The results of the groundwater vulnerability calculations were validated with the actual conditions in the study area by comparing them with the measured nitrate concentrations, as shown in Table 6. Based on the laboratory analysis results, the nitrate content in all nine groundwater samples was still within the standards for drinking water quality, varying between 0.43 mg/l (the lowest) and 6.64 mg/l (the highest). Considering the distribution, high nitrate concentrations were generally found in locations with fairly high groundwater vulnerability to pollution. Conversely, low concentrations were detected in regions with medium vulnerability. As a conclusion, the groundwater vulnerability to pollution in the study area correlates with the conditions in the field.
These findings are similar to the results of previous studies. Using a modified SINTACS with an additional parameter, land use layers, Noori et al. (2019) found the strongest correlation between nitrate and the vulnerability index (coefficient of determination= 0.75). In Majandang and Sarapirome (2013), the level of nitrate in groundwater was proven to have a significant positive correlation with the vulnerability level (0.51). In addition, Al-Amoush et al. (2010) confirmed that high to very high groundwater vulnerability values were associated with high nitrate levels.
No. |
Vulnerability Index |
Vulnerability Level |
Nitrate Concentration (mg/l) |
1 |
173.8 |
Fairly high |
2.04 |
2 |
164.3 |
Fairly high |
6.64 |
3 |
129.0 |
Medium |
0.78 |
4 |
168.8 |
Fairly high |
0.8 |
5 |
185.9 |
Fairly high |
1.0 |
6 |
128.5 |
Medium |
0.47 |
7 |
117.0 |
Medium |
0.63 |
8 |
179.8 |
Fairly high |
0.43 |
9 |
130.0 |
Medium |
1.17 |
Source: Calculation results
4. Conclusion
The groundwater vulnerability index in the study area ranged between 117.0 and 185.9, with medium vulnerability in four observation sites and fairly high vulnerability in the other five locations. The former can be found in the Sentolo Formation (limestone; grumusol soil), while the latter is located in the Yogyakarta Formation (volcanic rock; regosol soil). For this reason, geology and soil type are believed to be the factors that significantly shape groundwater vulnerability to pollution in the study area. Regarding the SINTACS method, the study has proven that it is suitable for areas with different topographic and geological features that provide a wider alternative for analysis.
Acknowledgments
This paper is part of a study entitled "Utilization of SINTACS Methods in Predicting Groundwater Vulnerability in Kasihan District, Bantul Regency", financed by the Legal Aid Funding for State Universities, Faculty of Geography, Universitas Gadjah Mada. Sincere gratitude is extended to the Dean for the opportunity provided and for financial assistance.
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