Abstract
The phreatic aquifer of Metline-Ras Jebel-Raf Raf (prefecture of Bizerte, northeastern coast of Tunisia), which occupies an area of 35 km (super 2) , has a great economical importance, because it is used for irrigation and domestic consumption. The area of the aquifer is essentially occupied by agricultural zones, characterised by increasing use of chemical fertilizers. These chemical fertilizers threaten the quality of the groundwaters. The study of the vulnerability to pollution of this aquifer was made by applying two intrinsic vulnerability methods: the generic DRASTIC and the SINTACS methods, and a specific method of vulnerability to nitrate pollution: the SI method. For the application of those methods, GIS techniques were used. The validity of the different methods to agricultural pollution by nitrates was verified by comparing the distribution of these species in the groundwater with the distribution of the different vulnerability classes. The comparison demonstrated that the SI method is the most valid method in the studied system. Abstract Copyright (2007) Elsevier, B.V.