Sustainability, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 17(9), P. 4130 - 4130

Published: May 2, 2025

Diffuse agricultural pollution is a leading contributor to surface water degradation, particularly in regions undergoing rapid land use change and intensification. In many developing countries, conventional assessment approaches fall short of capturing the spatial complexity cumulative nature multiple environmental drivers that influence vulnerability. This study addresses this gap by introducing Integral Index Vulnerability Contamination (IIVDC), spatially explicit, multi-criteria framework combines Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) with Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The IIVDC integrates six key indicators—slope, soil erodibility, use, runoff potential, hydrological connectivity, observed quality—weighted through expert elicitation mapped at high resolution. methodology was applied Guachal River watershed Valle del Cauca, Colombia, where pressures are pronounced. Results indicate 33.0% exhibits vulnerability 4.3% very vulnerability, critical zones aligned steep slopes, limited vegetation cover, strong connectivity cultivated areas. By accounting for both biophysical attributes pollutant transport pathways, offers replicable tool prioritizing management interventions. Beyond its technical application, contributes sustainability enabling evidence-based decision-making resource protection planning. It supports integrated, targeted actions can reduce long-term contamination risks, guide sustainable practices, improve institutional capacity governance. approach suited contexts data but planning essential. Future refinement should consider dynamic quality monitoring validation across contrasting hydro-climatic enhance transferability.

Language: Английский