This map presents the intrinsic vulnerability of groundwater systems and the sensitivity or resistance of those systems to natural disasters. The concept of groundwater vulnerability takes into account that the geological characteristics of the aquifers and the physical environment provide different degrees of protection against natural or human activities related impacts. Aquifers in karst formations or in fluvial unconsolidated deposits of large rivers are highly vulnerable to floods and droughts, and coastal aquifers are particularly prone to tsunamis, while the groundwater resources in deep-seated aquifers are naturally less vulnerable and more resilient to external influences due to their protection from the earth surface by geological layers with low permeability. Some of these aquifers, if accurately managed, could supply drinking water in the post-disaster emergency phase, replacing damaged water supply systems.
