The role of urban areas in aquifer vulnerability assessments: The Salamanca, Mexico, case

Most aquifer vulnerability assessment methods consider relatively homogeneous media. An urban area could be considered as an inhomogeneous media. Different procedures for incorporating such inhomogeneities in the DRASTIC and AVI methods are analyzed such as green areas in urban zones, faults, fractures, surface water bodies (dams, lakes, riverbeds). Leakage from pipelines and sewage is discussed. The Salamanca Case in central Mexico, where the DRASTIC and AVI methods were applied, is analyzed.