Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID GU_2024_Wen1

Establishing a GIS-based Model for Updating GPZs in Guam

Institute: Guam
Year Established: 2024 Start Date: 2024-09-01 End Date: 2025-08-31
Total Federal Funds: $34,088 Total Non-Federal Funds: Not available

Principal Investigators: Yuming Wen

Project Summary: The high porosity and rapid recharge characteristics of the northern Guam lens aquifer (NDLA) due to its main geological feature of limestone make it vulnerable to contamination from urban runoff, chemical spills, effluents from septic tanks, human induced activities, and sewage overflows. The existing GPZs map was adopted in 1986 to protect the water resources in the NGLA, and it needs to be updated based on new data and technologies. Since groundwater in NGLA supplies about 90% daily water use, it’s crucial to update groundwater protection zones (GPZs) map so that the water resources in the NGLA can be better managed for sustainable development and utilization to meet the daily needs of people in Guam.