An application of fuzzy logic to the assessment of aquifers' pollution potential

This paper presents a model for the assessment of groundwater pollution potential based on fuzzy logic and derived, as an example, from the widespread parametric method named DRASTIC. The acronym contains the initials of the parameters taken into consideration in the pollution potential assessment: depth of the water table, recharge of the aquifer, aquifer type, soil type, topographic slope, impact of non-saturated zone, conductivity. The model obtains a pollution potential score, which depends not only on the values of the parameters taken into consideration, but also on the magnitude of the errors unavoidably associated with the measurement, or estimation, of the parameters themselves. It will be shown how this may enter into a planning process to protect groundwater resources. The approach presented may be employed to modify, in the same manner, other evaluation methodologies or even be used in applications partly or totally different from the one considered in the text.