Application of the DITAPH model coupling human activities and groundwater dynamics for nitrate vulnerability assessment: A case study in Quanzhou, China
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Abstract: To address the deficiencies in comprehensive surface contamination prevention strategies within China's nitrate-affected regions, this research innovatively proposes the DITAPH model - a systematic framework integrating groundwater nitrate vulnerability assessment and Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs) delineation through optimization of hydrogeological parameters. Based on detailed hydrogeological and hydrochemical investigations, the DITAPH model was applied in the plain areas of Quanzhou to evaluate its applicability. The model selected hydrogeological parameters (depth of groundwater, lithology of the vadose zone, topographic slope, aquifer water yield property), one climatic parameter (precipitation), and two anthropogenic parameters (land use type and population density) as assessment indicators. The results of the groundwater nitrate vulnerability assessment showed that the low, relatively low, relatively high, and high groundwater nitrate vulnerability zones in the study area accounted for 5.96%, 35.44%, 53.74% and 4.86% of the total area, respectively. Groundwater nitrate vulnerability was most strongly influenced by human activities, followed by groundwater depth and topographic slope. The high vulnerability zone is mainly affected by domestic and industrial wastewater, whereas the relatively high groundwater nitrate vulnerability zone is primarily influenced by agricultural activities. Validation of the DITAPH model revealed a significant positive correlation between the DITAPH index (DI) and nitrate concentration (ρ(NO3−)). The results of the NVZs delineated by the DITAPH model are reliable and can serve as a tool for water resource management planning, guiding the development of targeted measures in the NVZs to prevent groundwater contamination.
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Table 1. Data Sources for the DITAPH model
Data type Sources Depth of groundwater (D) Manual measurement Impact of vadose zone lithology (I) Geological map of the southern coastal area of Fujian Topographic slope (T) NASA DEM - National Aeronautics and Space Administration Aquifer thickness (A) Hydrogeologic map of the southern coastal area of Fujian Precipitation (P) China 1 km Resolution Monthly Precipitation Dataset (1901–2023) Human Activity (H) Land use China multi-period land use land cover data set (CNLUCC) Population density Nighttime Lights Data - National Aeronautics and Space Administration Table 2. Theoretical weights assigned to DITAPH parameters
Parameter D I T A P H Theoretical weight 2.5 0.5 1.5 2 0.5 5 Note: The weight values were dynamically calibrated through sensitivity analysis. Each of the six assessment parameters of the DITAPH model was divided into ranges or categories, and then rating scores were assigned to each range/category according to the magnitude of the impact of the different ranges/categories on groundwater vulnerability (Fig. 2), with reference to the DRASTIC index scoring method proposed by Aller (Aller et al. 1987) and the Modified DRASTIC index scoring method proposed by Zhong (Zhong, 2005). Each of the assessment parameters is rated on a scale of 1 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater impact of the parameter on groundwater vulnerability. Table 3. Characteristic parameters of NVZs
Vulnerability class LZs RLZs RHZs HZs Index value DI<55 55≤DI<75 75≤DI<95 DI≥95 Area (km2) 80.85 480.98 729.42 66.03 Area percentage (%) 5.96 35.44 53.74 4.86 Hydrogeological parameters D 4–8 m: 72% of area2–4 m: 12% of area 4–8 m: 59% of area2–4 m: 28% of area 4–8 m: 53% of area2–4 m: 34% of area 4–8 m: 24% of area2–4 m: 63% of area I Mainly granite, tuff lava, followed by clay, clayey sand, sandy clay Mainly clay, clayey sand, sandy clay, silty clay, followed by granite, tuff lava Mainly clays, clayey sands, sandy clays and silt and fine sands Mainly fine sand and clay T > 20%: 79% of area 4–10%: 38% of area≤4%: 47% of area ≤4%: 80% of area ≤4%: 97% of area A 100–1,000 m3/d: 69% of area 10–100 m3/d: 78% of area 10–100 m3/d: 94% of area 10–100 m3/d: 99% of area P >1,000 mm: 86% of area 900–1,000: 79% of area 900–1,000: 85% of area 1,000–1,100 mm: 65% of area900–1,000 mm: 35% of area Climatic parameter P >1,000 mm: 86% of area 900–1,000: 79% of area 900–1,000: 85% of area 1,000–1,100 mm: 65% of area900–1,000 mm: 35% of area Human activity parameters H unfragmented woodland: 43% of areawoodland: 36% of area Unfragmented woodland: 49% of areadry cropland: 26% of area wet cropland: 43% of areadry cropland: 34% of area Mainly townland, with a population density of >50 persons/km2: 62% of area Table 4. Distribution of nitrate concentration in groundwater
Vulnerability Class Samples Proportion of each groundwater quality class Ⅰ Ⅱ Ⅳ Ⅳ Ⅴ HZs 6 16.67% 0.00% 33.33% 33.33% 16.67% RHZs 85 0.00% 0.00% 70.59% 22.35% 7.06% RLZs 48 18.75% 27.08% 52.08% 2.08% 0.00% Table 5. Comparison of groundwater quality distribution within NVZs as delineated by the DRASTIC and DITAPH models
Classification method Vulnerability class Samples Groundwater quality class/% Compliant water Contaminated water Proportion of contaminated water Ⅰ Ⅱ Ⅳ Ⅳ Ⅴ Class (I - III) Class (IV - V) DRASTIC HZs 35 5 6 18 5 1 29 6 17.14% RHZs 19 2 2 14 0 1 18 1 5.26% RLZs 76 3 5 47 16 5 55 21 27.63% LZs 9 0 0 8 1 0 8 1 11.11% DITAPH HZs 6 1 0 2 2 1 3 3 50.00% RHZs 85 0 0 60 19 6 60 25 29.41% RLZs 48 9 13 25 1 0 47 1 2.08% LZs 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - -
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