ABSTRACT
This chapter is concerned with some information on the context of vulnerability mapping. Several hydrogeologically based susceptibility ranking systems have been developed as aids for the evaluation of the capacity of the subsurface environment to attenuate pollutants; many such systems involve mapping of resultant zones of vulnerability to pollution. Groundwater vulnerability to contamination can be defined as the tendency or likelihood for contaminants to reach a specified position in the groundwater system after introduction at some location above the uppermost aquifer. Vulnerability mapping techniques typically lead to either numerical indices for, or classifications of, geographical areas relative to their susceptibility to groundwater contamination. Vulnerability mapping has some particularly important uses or purposes relative to agricultural activities and groundwater pollution concerns. Soil physical properties that influence nitrate leaching were assessed for pertinent soil types and used to classify soil leaching in the vulnerability scale.
