Assessing the middle – upper pleistocene aquifer vulnerability due to the seawater intrusion in Ca Mau peninsula

Abstract

The impact of climate change and over exploitation reduced the quality and groundwater reserves of the Ca Mau peninsula. This study used the GALDIT index to assess the vulnerability of groundwater resources due to salinity intrusion under exploitation and sea level rise. The GALDIT index results showed that the damage caused by the salinity intrusion of the Middle - Upper Pleistocene aquifer (qp2-3)was from moderate to high. The most vulnerable areas were Ca Mau and Soc Trang, accounting for 54.52% of the studied area, the average vulnerabbe areas were Kien Giang and Bac Lieu. This result could be used as a basis for policy planning, exploitation and utilization of sustainable groundwater resources, and to develop appropriate recommendations for people in the studied area.