A “Drastic” Evaluation of the Ground-Water Pollution Potential of Karst Terrain: Lost River Ground-Water Basin, Warren County, Kentucky

Authors

David Baize

Publication Date

4-1990

Advisor(s) - Committee Chair

Nicholas Crawford, Kenneth Kuehn, Michael Trapasso

Degree Program

Department of Geography and Geology

Degree Type

Master of Science

Abstract

Karst terrains, such as the Lost River Karst Ground-Water Basin, are extremely vulnerable to ground-water contamination. Seven physical factors: depth to water, recharge, aquifer media, soil media, topography, impact of the vadose zone, and hydraulic conductivity, are evaluated using the DRASTIC system to determine the ground-water pollution potential of the study area. A numerical value is calculated for each of the seven factors, and a map layer for each factor is produced. These layers are then “added” together to produce a DRASTIC ground-water pollution potential map. The effectiveness of each factor in evaluating the pollution potential of karst terrain is discussed. It was determined that small scale hydrogeologic features unique to karst areas provide significant influences on contaminant transport that are not addressed by the DRASTIC methodology. Therefore, it is recommended that modifications to the DRASTIC system be made by the users of the DRASTIC system when evaluating the pollution potential of a karst terrain.

Disciplines

Earth Sciences | Environmental Health and Protection | Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment | Environmental Monitoring | Environmental Sciences | Geography | Geology | Hydrology | Physical Sciences and Mathematics | Social and Behavioral Sciences | Soil Science | Water Resource Management

Recommended Citation

Baize, David, "A “Drastic” Evaluation of the Ground-Water Pollution Potential of Karst Terrain: Lost River Ground-Water Basin, Warren County, Kentucky" (1990). Masters Theses & Specialist Projects. Paper 1889.
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/1889