GROUNDWATER VULNERABILITY OF THAILAND’S LOWER CHAO PHRAYA BASIN

Abstract

Since global warming effects water resources, especially, surface water sources, groundwater is an essential water source, when facing the critical drought. Groundwater is less sensitive than surface water because groundwater response is delayed. However, groundwater may face critical drought and shortage. Groundwater vulnerability is a tool to identify critical areas for maintaining water quantity and quality. The Fuzzy-Catastrophe-based DRASTIC model, drought persistence and several climate scenarios were combined to estimate the vulnerability on the confined aquifers of Thailand’s Lower Chao Phraya (LCP) basin. Thus, critical areas that may face groundwater shortage were identified. Our analysis predicted that most of the basin would have few effects on climate change. However, vulnerability maps showed that 5% of the basin may be critical areas that may show groundwater shortage, especially, drought persistent areas with low rainfall. Generated maps identify ‘hotspots’ and can help decisions on groundwater development and economic growth and aid planning policy.