A New Integrated Approach to Groundwater Potential–Vulnerability Mapping Using AHP and DRASTIC

A New Integrated Approach to Groundwater Potential–Vulnerability Mapping Using AHP and DRASTIC | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article A New Integrated Approach to Groundwater Potential–Vulnerability Mapping Using AHP and DRASTIC Bahman Fazil Fatih, Asghar Asghari Moghaddam, Twana O. Abdullah, and 1 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8422346/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 24 Apr, 2026 Read the published version in Scientific Reports → Version 1 posted 15 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract In semi-arid environments, groundwater serves as a key source of freshwater, especially where surface water is scarce and seasonal. The Halabja–Khwrmal area of northeast Iraq, exemplifies this dependency, where escalating demand and increasing contamination risks create challenges for sustainable groundwater management and necessitate a comprehensive management strategy. This study develops an integrated framework that combines groundwater potential mapping with intrinsic vulnerability assessment to provide a comprehensive evaluation of groundwater conditions in the area. Groundwater potential was performed through the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), based on key environmental and hydrogeological factors, while groundwater vulnerability was evaluated using DRASTIC model. Independent validation using well discharge data demonstrated acceptable predictive accuracy for the potential assessment, and a strong positive relationship was observed between vulnerability scores and nitrate concentrations. The two assessments were integrated to generate a groundwater Potential–Vulnerability (PV) map. The results indicate that high potential zones occupy a significant portion of the area, while low to moderate vulnerability is widespread. Integration identified zones suitable for groundwater development, as well as areas requiring protection. The PV map offers a structured approach for linking groundwater availability with susceptibility to contamination, and it provides practical guidance for sustainable groundwater planning in semi-arid settings. Earth and environmental sciences/Environmental sciences Earth and environmental sciences/Hydrology Groundwater Analytical Hierarchy Process DRASTIC Potential–Vulnerability (PV) map Integrated groundwater assessment Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Table 1 to 5 areavailable in the Supplementary Files section. Supplementary Files Table1.docx Table2.docx Figure3.docx Table4.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 24 Apr, 2026 Read the published version in Scientific Reports → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 19 Feb, 2026 Reviews received at journal 10 Feb, 2026 Reviews received at journal 10 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 09 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 08 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 07 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 07 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 07 Feb, 2026 Reviews received at journal 05 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 05 Feb, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 05 Feb, 2026 Editor invited by journal 02 Feb, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 28 Jan, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 28 Jan, 2026 First submitted to journal 22 Dec, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8422346","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":587733631,"identity":"7e4ac420-e0e0-4e7b-ae56-6c490c4938b5","order_by":0,"name":"Bahman Fazil Fatih","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Tabriz","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Bahman","middleName":"Fazil","lastName":"Fatih","suffix":""},{"id":587733632,"identity":"ca8a45bc-ab76-438f-b537-31e309ab7563","order_by":1,"name":"Asghar Asghari Moghaddam","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Tabriz","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Asghar","middleName":"Asghari","lastName":"Moghaddam","suffix":""},{"id":587733633,"identity":"0389aec8-1923-472c-a18a-c3cf382e0682","order_by":2,"name":"Twana O. 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