Potentiometric zoning of groundwater resources of Yazd-Ardakan plain

Water is origin of life and important in many angels of human life including economic, social and cultural aspects. In dried and semi-dried area, the value of water is higher due to the heterogeneity in spatial and time distribution of rainfall. In Iran, area located in center and eastern of the country are faced to lack of water, causing imbalance between water source and water utilization and main further problems regarding sustainable development in these regions. Nowadays, attentions to underground waters is unavoidable due to the lack of rainfall, increases of concerns about digging the depth wells, extra exploitation and ignoring the water management and artificial nutrition of water sources. To this end, the present study was aimed to assay underground water sources of Yazd-Ardekan plain using AHP and GIS methods in order to determination of suitable water sources for exploitation. Our results showed that 59.35% equal to 725539 hec of Yazd-Ardekan plain have very good potential, 9.61% good, 9% medium, 17.74% low and 10% very low for water exploitation.