Mapping of groundwater potential zones in the Diyarbakir city center using GIS

Areas of city centers are increasing rapidly, as a result of increasing population correspondingly urbanization and expansion of axis of urbanization. This situation threats cultivated areas and groundwater basins close to city centers. Especially in consequence of industrialization and urbanization groundwater basins are threatened by pollution. Therefore, clean and usable surface water and especially groundwater must be regularly monitored and protected. Nowadays and in the future, the most important water source is groundwater. Geographic Information System (GIS) is an extremely popular computer program in recent years. Data is continuously updated with GIS, data cannot be acquired also can be analyzed modeled by this computer program. In our study, Diyarbakir city center, which is located on the Tigris river basin, groundwater potentials, and static water levels was examined and modeled by using GIS programmer. Firstly, general geological data, meteorological data, and general information about natural water sources are collected together, afterwards logs of well drilled by public institutions and private individuals within the Diyarbakir city center are analyzed. Static water level, dynamic water level, and pumps productivity rates are classified in these logs. Then, thematic maps produced with the help of Arc Info Professional GIS programmer. Groundwater source potential of Diyarbakir examined with by means of these thematic maps. In hydrogeological research, productivity by aquifer features, water retention capacity, and groundwater level data evaluated with geological structure of area are taken into consideration.