Mapping key areas to protect high-value and high-vulnerability groundwater from pollution load: Method for management

Severe groundwater pollution has necessitated prioritizing the prevention and control of groundwater pollution (PCGP). The fundamental strategy of PCGP involves identifying priority areas. Vulnerability assessment, such as DRASTIC, and its extension, pollution risk assessment, have been developed to guide PCGP. However, managers find it struggling to implement these results in PCGP due to a lack of consideration for practical management demands. This study establishes a management-oriented method to map key areas for groundwater protection and PCGP, considering water sources, pollution source load, vulnerability, and function value, to facilitate management implementation. The key area includes the protection area aimed at protecting water sources and the control area focused on preventing and controlling pollution load in high-value and high-vulnerability groundwater. The effectiveness and practicality of this method are demonstrated through a case study in a large district reliant on groundwater, enabling the key area and corresponding suggestions to directly guide local management. This method offers a practical tool for PCGP worldwide and is expected to guide the sustainable development plan. [Display omitted] •Zoning rather than whole area control or remediation is the ultimate strategy.•Strategic regional scale macro zoning is superior to refined simulating.•Plains and basins (human settlements) rather than mountains are mainly considered.•Only limited areas require special protection or prevention from pollution load.•This method can directly serve control strategies compared with DRASTIC.