An Investigation of Groundwater Resource Potential In karst Formation of Kermanshah Khorin Mountain Using GIS Technique and Geophysical Methods

Considering the necessity and importance of the existence of water as a living resource, and at the same time, increasing population and the growing need for this source, providing water for drinking, agricultural and industrial purposes is one of the serious challenges in today’s world. The Karst can be a good source for water supply. The studies and researches of Karst water resources, due to limited alluvial resources in terms of quality and quantity and due to the wide expansion karst formations in the country, have particular importance. Khorin limestone is located in the northwest of Kermanshah city, where the main waters of the settlements around this area and the Hashilan lagoon are provided by the springs, Mirage and karst aquifers of this mountain. Therefore, in this study using the Fuzzy Logic / AHP model and employing eight effective criteria, the zoning map of potential Karst water resources of region was prepared. Then, to ensure the obtained areas, they were evaluated by field operations and geophysical methods. The results of the plot prepared with the fuzzy logic model showed that the southern ridge of Khorin and around the Hashilan lagoon had the capability and the potential of more Karst water resources. In order to validate this work, field operations and data collection was performed by vertical electrical sounding method in two separate profiles in the southern and northern slopes of the Khorin Mountain. The presence of a rich source of high quality water in the middle section of the southern slope and the lack of water resources in the northern slope confirmed the accuracy of the zoning results by the Fuzzy Logic / AHP model.