This monograph instructs the reader on how to analyze the hydrogeochemical vulnerability. It introduces notions of geochemical signals, points of migration of pollutants in the unsaturated zone, and new hydrogeochemical classifications. Three test sites in the USA, Germany, and Moldova are described as case studies accompanied by illustrative data. The authors presuppose for future readers only the background mathematics and elementary knowledge of hydrogeology. The presented methodology is both for local and regional assessments. It is simple, does not need implication of high qualification specialists and can be applied to test the groundwater quality. The book is useful for undergraduate, graduate, master, and PhD students as well as water quality specialists, ecologists and geology professionals.

Autorentext
Robyn HANNIGAN, Professor, PhD, is the Dean of the School for the Environment at the University of Massachusetts Boston, USA. She is actively engaged at the national and international level in both environmental service and research. As a geochemist, Robyn's research focuses on studying groundwater, groundwater surface water interrelation in geological and climatically dynamic environments, and surface climate change-ocean interactions through the chemistry of water. Water resources protection, including ground water, is constantly in her scientific focus. She has valuable professional publications and contributions in groundwater geochemistry. Dr. Hannigan R. is internationally recognized water quality specialist. Constantin MORARU, Dr. habilitatus, PhD, is the Head of the Laboratory of Hydrogeology at the Institute of Geology and Seismology of the Republic of Moldova. He is a Hydrogeologist with a wide range of international scientific experience. His research focuses on Low Temperature Hydrogeochemistry, Ground and Surface water contamination and water resources protection. As a researcher he contributed with many significant publications in hydrogeology areas, including 6 books. Dr. Moraru conduct hydrogeochemistry research and mentor undergraduate and graduate students.

Inhalt
Overview of groundwater vulnerability assessment methods.- Geochemical method of the groundwater vulnerability assessment.- Basic principles of hydrogeology for hydrogeochemical vulnerability.- Environmental settings of study territories.- Hydrogeochemical vulnerability estimation.- Groundwater geochemistry and vulnerability.