Evaluation and Comparison of Methods for Determining the Protection zone of Wells Using a Mathematical model (Case Study of Golestan aquifer)

Underground water resources is One of the most important parts that supplies the human need, particularly in arid and semi-arid. At present, a considerable part of the drinking water is supplied from underground water sources, which are mostly free aquifer. Therefore,the Quality protection of this sources is important. Decontamination of groundwater is costly and lengthy process and is often diagnosed when the aquifer decontamination is impossible. Identify vulnerable areas of aquifers and land use management is one of the best ways to prevent contamination of groundwater. So in this study, the qualitative protection zone of tow drinking water wells located in the Alluvial area and plain of golestan province, using WHEAM2000 software and use the method of equations in groundwater flow in uniform flow conditions and constant radius, To compare the performance of two methods to calculate protection zone in these areas, was calculated. The results showed that in the presence of hydrological-reliable parameters for the establishment of wells area, the above software can be used as a useful tool for the determining protection zone of wells. Since in the plain area the hydraulic gradient (i) and hydraulic conductivity (k) is lower, so the protection zone calculated by method of equations in groundwater flow in uniform flow conditions and constant radius overlap more than the Alluvial area.