A GIS-Based Identification of Groundwater Recharge Zones Using Remote Sensing in the Nabatiyeh District: An Important Factor in Land Use Planning

Groundwater is an invaluable and limited resource, necessitating precise assessments for sustainable utilization, particularly under increasingly severe weather conditions. This study focuses on identifying potential groundwater recharge zones in the Nabatiyeh district using a model that integrates remote sensing and GIS technologies. The model evaluates seven key factors: geology, land use, soil type, lineament density, drainage density, precipitation, and slope. These thematic layers are derived from various maps of Nabatiyeh, including geological, soil, contour lines, lineaments, rainfall, satellite images from GEOEYE-1, and natural resource maps. By applying the Multi-Influencing Factor (MIF) method, the resulting map classifies the area into three categories: low, moderate, and high potential for groundwater recharge. The findings indicate that 71% of the total area is classified as having high groundwater recharge potential. Additionally, the intersection of the groundwater recharge map with the land use map generates a risk map categorized into high, moderate, and low risk zones. This risk map reveals that 83% of the area is at high or moderate risk. Examining land use in these risky zones is crucial for identifying pollution sources. The village of Kfour was selected for detailed terrain classification to protect groundwater recharge zones.