Vulnerability to Contamination of the Olón Aquifer Using the GOD Method, Olón-Ecuador

Abstract

Vulnerability is an indicator of foreseeable risks in aquifer’s quality, considering the environment and anthropogenic implications. This measure is determined by different conditions and realities of a system, such as air and water quality, economic studies, health and hygiene and landslides. Aquifers are prone to contamination by extrinsic and extrinsic factors affecting water quality. This work focuses on determining the vulnerability to contamination of the Olón aquifer, using the Groundwater Overlaying Depth (GOD) method for zoning the areas susceptible to contamination. The methodology consisted of three phases: (i) gathering of basic hydrogeological information; (ii) Application of geographic information systems according to the GOD method in the Olón aquifer; (iii) Analysis of the findings and elaboration of the vulnerability map. The results indicate that the aquifer, in its entire domain, has a high vulnerability index, mainly due to its intrinsic conditions and their relationship with anthropic activities in the sector. This methodology has made it possible to detect predominant factors that influence contamination and provides details for strategic planning of measures to be considered to preserve the resource and its nature. The extreme vulnerability near the coastline is caused by human settlement and tourist activities. This methodology made it possible to detect the predominant factors polluting the aquifer.; therefore, measures for protecting the community and its resources must be taken. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.