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DRASTIC: A STANDARDIZED SYSTEM FOR EVALUATING GROUND WATER POLLUTION POTENTIAL USING HYDROGEOLOGIC SETTINGS
Citation:
Aller, L., T. Bennett, J. Lehr, AND R. Petty. DRASTIC: A STANDARDIZED SYSTEM FOR EVALUATING GROUND WATER POLLUTION POTENTIAL USING HYDROGEOLOGIC SETTINGS. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/2-85/018.
Description:
A methodology is described that will allow the pollution potential of any hydrogeologic setting to be systematically evaluated anywhere in the United States. The system has two major portions: the designation of mappable units, termed hydrogeologic settings, and the superposition of a relative rating system called DRASTIC. Hydrogeologic settings are described for different regions in the United States. These settings incorporate the major hydrogeologic factors which affect and control ground water movement including depth to water table, net recharge, aquifer media, soil media, topography, impact of the vadose zone and hydraulic conductivity of the aquifer. These factors, which form the acronym DRASTIC, as used to infer the potential for contaminants to enter ground water. The relative ranking scheme uses a combination of weights and ratings to produce a numerical value, called the DRASTIC INDEX, which helps prioritize areas with respect to ground water contamination vulnerability.