Idir, Sofiane ， Khemmoudj, Kaddour ， Benhoula, Mohammed ， Bouali, Horiya
2025-10-07 WATER CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 2025 10(卷), 3(期), (null页)
Groundwater is a critical resource in semi-arid regions, compensating for scarce surface water, yet its sustainable management is challenged by overexploitation, pollution, and climate change. This study presents an integrated GIS-based approach to assess groundwater vulnerability and potential in the Oued Agrioun watershed, northeastern Algeria, a representative semi-arid region. By combining the DRASTIC, SINTACS, and GOD models for vulnerability assessment with the AHP method for potential evaluation, the study maps areas suitable for exploitation and those requiring protection. Results indicate a predominance of high-vulnerability zones (52.93% per DRASTIC) and moderate-potential areas (76.35% per AHP), with four management categories identified through overlay analysis: low, medium, high, and very high. Unlike previous studies, this multi-model integration provides a holistic framework tailored to semi-arid constraints, offering novel insights into balancing resource use and protection. These findings provide actionable recommendations for water managers to optimize groundwater exploitation while minimizing pollution risks, enhancing sustainable aquifer management in similar climatic contexts.