Determination of groundwater potential distribution of Ceylanpinar Plain (Turkey) in Upper Mesopotamia by using geographical information techniques and Fuzzy-AHP with MCDM

The Ceylanpinar Plain is an important part of Upper Mesopotamia and one of the largest plains of Turkey, is in danger of facing water scarcity due to global climate change. For this reason, the potential of groundwater resources is important. In this study, groundwater potential zones in the Ceylanpinar Plain basin were investigated utilizing a weighted overlay analysis method combined with fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP) multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approaches and geoinformation technologies. The groundwater potential zone map was created using 10 theme layers that were produced and processed in a geographic information system (GIS) environment (GPZM). After that, possible groundwater zones were identified and classified into five categories: very good, good, medium, poor, and very poor. By assessing the present open well distribution and yield data of selected wells within the research catchment, the predicted groundwater potential zones (GWPZ) was confirmed. As a result, 17% of the study area was found to be very good, 39% good, 20% moderate, 21.4% poor and 2.6% very poor. This study provides a key estimate and crucial information for regional water administrators and officials in southeast Turkey by giving a map of the groundwater potential region, in order to ensure sustainable groundwater management.