ABSTRACT
According to Robins (1998), “the management of both groundwater resources and of individual groundwater sources cannot sensibly be undertaken without some knowledge of recharge: its quantity, its seasonality and, above all, the dierent routes through the sub-soil and the unsaturated zone by which it can occur.” Recharge also plays an important role in the assessment of aquifer vulnerability to contamination. According to Foster (1998) “since the transport of most groundwater contaminants, with the exception of density driven contaminants such as DNAPLs, to saturated aquifers occurs in the aqueous phase as part of the recharge process, assessing aquifer pollution vulnerability is inextricably linked with understanding groundwater recharge mechanisms.” Aquifer vulnerability maps can provide valuable guidance to municipal planners and developers regarding land use allocation, well locations, and pumping regulations. is is especially important in areas where the underlying aquifers are exploited extensively for drinking water purposes.
