Groundwater Protection in the Damascus Ghouta

An example for the integration of tools

Land Use
The intensively cultivated Ghouta Plain supplies Damascus City with agricultural produce and plays an important role as a greenbelt for the city (local climate, environment, and recreation). Large quantities of groundwater are being withdrawn from the underlying aquifers for agricultural purposes and for the water supply of the city and its surroundings.

Hydrogeology
Present water consumption far exceeds natural replenishment. Because of the scarcity of water, practically all water resources (including heavily polluted sewage water) are being used with hardly any restrictions. Over-abstraction of groundwater led to severe declines of groundwater levels.

Hazards to Groundwater
Groundwater vulnerability is closely related to risk assessment. The map of hazards to groundwater gives first indications of potential sources of pollution. Since the main water supply installations are shown too, the map allows for first assessments of the risks of contamination in particular areas.

Groundwater Vulnerability
Maps of groundwater vulnerability to pollution provide basic information for the protection of the groundwater resources. The maps show the natural protective effectiveness of the soil and rock cover above the aquifer and indicate the areas where the risk of contaminating the groundwater is particularly high. Groundwater vulnerability mapping is a suitable tool, which allows planners and concerned authorities to include aspects of groundwater protection in responsible land-use planning.

Groundwater Suitability
The groundwater resources are not only threatened by over-abstraction but also by the deteriorating groundwater quality. Groundwater contamination has a negative impact on the water supply situation in the Damascus area. Nitrate contents, for example, exceed the permissible values for drinking water considerably in many locations. Remediation of polluted aquifers is extremely costly and difficult, time consuming and sometimes practically impossible. Prevention of pollution, therefore, is much better than cure.