An Introductory-Geology Laboratory Exercise on Ground-Water-Pollution Potential Using the DRASTIC System

Abstract

Most students enrolled in the introductory physical-geology course do not intend to major in the geosciences; therefore, there is a need for laboratory exercises that apply geological principles to problems directly related to their environmental interests. Accordingly, an exercise was developed to involve students in the DRASTIC system for evaluating the potential for contamination of ground water. DRASTIC is an acronym for the hydrogeologic factors which influence groundwater pollution potential. These include recharge, surface slope, materials comprising the soil, vadose zone and aquifer, and the depth to the water table. The system involves two major elements: mappable units called hydrogeologic settings and a relative rating system for the pollution-potential factors. In order to simplify the DRASTIC system, only the three most important factors are used in the exercise. To complete the exercise, the student is required to construct a map of various hydrogeologic settings, calculate the pollution-potential index for each setting, and recommend appropriate sites for a variety of environmentally sensitive features based on the pollution potential of each. Student evaluations of the exercise suggest that it was well received.

Cite this work

No public copy is stored for this record, so only the metadata is cited.

Stored only when both papers are in the corpus — 6 citations exist upstream.