Shallow Groundwater Pollution Risk Assessment in the Plain Area of Baoji City, China

Groundwater pollution risk assessment is crucial for sustainable groundwater management. However, accurately evaluating groundwater pollution risk presents significant challenges due to the complexity and multitude of influencing factors. In this study, the traditional DRASTIC model for groundwater vulnerability assessment was improved. By integrating groundwater vulnerability, pollution load, and value function, a holistic assessment framework was developed to analyze pollution risks of shallow groundwater across the plain region of Baoji City. The analytic hierarchy process method was used to determine indicator weights. Results indicate that the general level of groundwater pollution risk in the Baoji Plain is comparatively low. Compared with the traditional DRASTIC model, the proportion of high and relatively high pollution risk areas based on the improved DRSTICW model superimposed pollution risk model accounts for 3.72%, which is reduced by 12.57% but is more reasonable. These high and relatively high pollution risk areas are predominantly located in the western floodplain area, where the groundwater vulnerability, pollution load, and value function are all high. Although the distribution range is limited, they are located in densely populated and industrial agglomeration areas. Accurately identifying such high-risk areas and implementing priority control are of great significance for curbing pollution diffusion, safeguarding groundwater resources, and guiding future land use development and management.