Jelena Loborec

Assessment of aquifer intrinsic vulnerability by the SINTACS method

Application of the SINTACS method for assessment of aquifer intrinsic vulnerability is demonstrated in the catchment areas of Jadro and Žrnovnica springs. Both Jadro and Žrnovnica are the springs of drinking water supplying the population of Split and surrounding settlements. A high-speed economic expansion in the catchment area accompanied with trend of increasing quantity of a number of contaminants in the spring water prompted comprehensive investigations with purpose of finalizing the Water Management Study of the Jadro and Žrnovnica springs. Results of the Study were treated by GIS tools and employed as input data for making the groundwater vulnerability map of the Jadro and Žrnovnica catchment areas. In addition to the standard method of defining the C factor which, in this case, is represented by the values of C(a), a modification is also introduced which takes into account the analysis of the sinkhole density.

Assessment of Groundwater Vulnerability in Croatian Karstic Aquifer in Jadro and Žrnovnica Springs Catchment Area

The groundwater vulnerability assessment is based on the evaluation of physical, chemical, and biological properties of the environment which can provide a certain degree of protection to the groundwater from contamination. In this paper are presented results of application four different methods (SINTACS, EPIK, PI, and COP) for groundwater vulnerability assessment in karstic aquifer in Croatia. The main objectives of the study were to apply the methods on test site where, so far, groundwater vulnerability was never assessed, then to modify the methods in order to improve adaptation to the research field and available data. After comparing vulnerability maps obtained by all four presented methods, it was determined that the most appropriate method is COP + K, which was additionally modified. Although presented methodology is not new, it can be used as a background for land-use planning, because it identifies parts of the catchment area that are, due to its natural features, more vulnerable to human impact. It can be also applied as an additional tool in groundwater protection for delineation of protection zones, and provides very useful data in various fields of water management, especially for karst area in Croatia.

Stručni rad Analiza opasnosti od onečišćenja podzemnih voda u kršu na primjeru sliva izvora Jadro i Žrnovnica

The catchment area of the Jadro and Žrnovnica springs, which is a typical Dinaric karst aquifer that supplies water to the city of Split and its surroundings, is studied in the paper. The trend of typical spring-water pollution indicators is analysed, water quality is estimated, and anthropogenic impact is assessed based on the COST 620 procedure, through analysis of hazards threatening to pollute water in this drainage area.