Vulnerability and risk assessment of ground water pollution in Yucatan

The objective of this study was to evaluate the risk of groundwater pollution through a risk map creation and analysis from the "Semicirculo de cenotes" and "Zona costera" hydrogeological regions in the State of Yucatan, Mexico. The risk map was obtained from vulnerability and hazard maps. The vulnerability was evaluated considering the seven variables that compose the DRASTIC method: D, depth; R, net recharge; A, lithology and media structure of the aquifer; S, soil type; T, topography; I, impact of vadose zone; and C, hydraulic conductivity. The information used in the application of this methodology was obtained from public sources and through literature review. The hazard map was developed based on the potential sources of hazardous waste generation in the region of study. The results showed the presence of a vulnerability classified as high, very high and extreme; additionally, a greater hazard was observed for the municipalities of Merida, Progreso and Dzidzantun, representing a very high risk of aquifer contamination.