Delineation of Groundwater Storage and Recharge Potential Zones Using Multi-Influencing Factors (MIF) Method: Application in Synclinal Coastal Basin of Essaouira (Western High Atlas of Morocco)

Abstract

Unpredictable rainfall caused by climate change and pollution directly impacts groundwater demand, making the exploitation of groundwater reserves necessary. To achieve this, a study in the synclinal basin of Essaouira (Western High Atlas) used GIS, remote sensing, and the Multi-Influencing Factors (MIF) method, to identify areas ideal for the installation of productive wells. An overlay analysis created a groundwater potential zone (GWPZ) map, showing 30% of the basin with high potential, 51% with moderate potential, and 19% with low to very low potential. The groundwater potential zone map was validated using geophysical surveys, piezometric data, and well water levels, showing a 69.3% prediction accuracy with the ROC curve.