Assessment of aquifer intrinsic vulnerability by the SINTACS method

Application of the SINTACS method for assessment of the intrinsic vulnerability of an aquifer is demonstrated in the catchment areas of the Jadro and Zrnovnica springs. Both springs provide drinking water, supplying the population of Split and the surrounding settlements. Rapid economic expansion in the catchment area, accompanied with an increasing trend in the quantity of a number of contaminants in the spring water, prompted comprehensive investigations in order to finalise the Water Management Study of the Jadro and Zrnovnica springs. Results of the Study were analysed by GIS tools and employed as input data for production of the groundwater vulnerability map of the Jadro and Zrnovnica catchment areas. In addition to the standard method of defining the C factor which, in this case, is represented by the values of C(a), a modification is also introduced which takes into account analysis of sinkhole density.