Evaluation of Vulnerability of Urmia Lake Saline Water Intrusion to Coastal Aquifer Using GALDIT Model

In the last few years, saline water intrusion in the Urmia aquifer has deteriorated groundwater quality. As a result of irremediable environmental impacts and deterioration of aquifer conditions, study on groundwater vulnerability due to saline water intrusion is very serious. This study focuses on the application of the new method, GALDIT, for the assessment of aquifer vulnerability due to saline water intrusion in the Urmia Lake. The computing of the GALDIT index is based on six parameters:Groundwater occurrence (G), Aquifer hydraulic conductivity (A), High groundwater Level above sea level (L), Distance from shore (D), Impact of existing amplitude and extensive of saline water intrusion (I), and Thickness of aquifer (T). The results of this study showed GALDIT indices were very high, high, moderate, and low in the northeast, southeast, north, and low in east of the aquifer, respectively.The GALDIT approach assists to managers for evaluation of aquifer conditions.