A Groundwater Vulnerability Assessment Method Using GIS and Multivariate Statistics - Gotland, Sweden.

Abstract: Concentrations of microorganisms and chemical components in groundwater are serious threats for groundwater resources sustainability and contribute to technical and health problems. Recent studies and reports in Gotland revealed huge concerns about water quality in the area. In this master thesis a range of methods such as GIS and statistical analysis including multivariate analysis and non-parametric analysis, have been used in order to identify natural and human factors which affect groundwater contamination. Main focus of the study was on using existing data and available databases in analyses. Consequently, several important factors such as land use, overlaying soil cover, soil thickness, bedrock, elevation, distance to deformation and fracture zones and slope were evaluated considering 8 variables including micro-organisms and chemical components. The results clarified several significant factors which statistically affected the micro-biological and chemical components of groundwater. These relations can be used for development of risk maps which can be used in spatial planning.