Groundwater potentiality index: a strategically conceived tool for water research in fractured aquifers

Durable development requires full profit and knowledge of natural resources potentialities. Multi-criterion approaches that encompass geological, morphological, hydrological and Geographical Information System technologies are ones of exiting developments in environmental sciences. This work is a proposition of a numerical model based on a groundwater potentiality index (GPI) calculation, using data on rock fracturing, lithology, drainage, topography, rainfall and drilling water yield. It provides the ability to identify areas indicating favorable conditions for exploratory well positioning in semi-arid zones with non-permeable outcrops. It is therefore a helpful tool to assist water resources prospecting in deprived regions. The newly conceived approach has been applied in the southeastern boundary of the Bouregreg and coastal basins of Central Morocco, where Paleozoic fractured rocks outcrop. The suitability of the GPI method use was verified by comparing the GPI map values with water yield of thirteen pumping tests in a field checking area, which revealed promising results.