Activities permitted cartography: the integration of groundwater protection into land-use planning

Groundwater is an essential resource as a source of water supply. For this reason, it is necessary to integrate and harmonise efforts to protect groundwater quality with socioeconomic activities and existing land-use patterns in any given region, as well as complying with the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive. In addition, land management seeks to coordinate and harmonise policies with regional impacts. Water—as a public good and an essential resource for the development of life and the evolution of populations—needs to become one of the main pillars of the management of a variety of regional policies. Therefore, water resources planning does not make sense without first considering forecasted land management patterns. The objective of this study was to enhance a method used to define safeguard zones protecting groundwater bodies intended for human consumption (i.e. the groundwater protection zones method) by developing a cartography method to create a map showing permitted activities in a particular region. This provides an effective tool to assist in the management of regional land use. Delimited safeguard zones that protect groundwater intended for human consumption must be integrated into land-use planning. The proposed development of a map of permitted activities facilitates is to make recommendations and formulate restrictions and prohibitions to avoid damage to groundwater used for human consumption.