Evaluation of resilience of nitrate and phosphate polluted drinking water wells in Maragheh city to present the optimal model in 2019-2020

Investigating the issue of resilience of drinking water wells and presenting an optimal model in determining their quality privacy is one of the most important tools for managing and protecting valuable groundwater resources. In this paper, the drastic model is used to evaluate resilience based on the inherent vulnerability of the aquifer based on the MODFLOW model and track the movement of particles in the aquifer by MODPATH to determine the catchment area of wells.

By Combining the results of both models in GIS environment, the pollution risk map and the resilience of drinking water wells in Maragheh city were determined regionally and in the catchment area of drinking water wells. Also, determination of resilience based on damage caused to pollutants to the aquifer within the quality area of wells. A quality assessment model based on pollutants was used to determine the quality area more accurately.

Most of the drinking wells in the area were less resilient with agricultural land use. Nitrate content in Maragheh drinking water wells averaged 7.3 mg/L, which is below the standard. Phosphate content was 0.35 mg/L on average, which is higher than the standard.

Due to determining the quality of drinking wells in different years, a larger quality area (ten years) should be considered for wells in these areas. Smaller protection can be applied to areas with high resilience and other land uses.