GIS-based GALDIT method for vulnerability assessment to seawater intrusion of the Quaternary coastal Collo aquifer (NE-Algeria)

The overexploitation of groundwater in coastal aquifers is often accompanied by seawater intrusion, intensified by climate change and sea level rise. Heading long-term water quality safety and thus the determination of vulnerable zones to seawater intrusion becomes a significant hydrogeological task for many coastal areas. Due to this background, the present study focussed the established methodology of the GIS-based GALDIT model to assess the aquifer vulnerability to seawater intrusion for the Algerian example of the Quaternary coastal Collo aquifer. According to the result analysis overall, more than half of the total surface of the northern study area can be classified as highly vulnerable. Besides the coastline, the areas nearby the local wadis of Guebli and Cherka occur to be the most vulnerable in the region. In view of further map removal performance as well as single-parameter sensitivity analyses from a coupled perspective respectively the GALDIT parameters, distance from the shore (D) and aquifer hydraulic conductivity (A) have been found to be of key significance regarding the model results (mean effective weightings ~?18–19%). Overall, the study results provide a good approximation basis for future management decisions of the Collo aquifer region, including various perspectives such as identification of suitable settings for prospective groundwater pumping wells.