Complexity and Fragility of Apulian Groundwater Resources
Session Type
Poster/Flash-talk Session
Start Date
19-8-2020 8:10 AM
Description
Complexity and Fragility of Apulian Groundwater Resources
Isabella Serena Liso¹ and Mario Parise¹
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Aldo Moro University, Italy
Abstract
Apulia, southern Italy, is an almost entirely carbonate peninsula, with widespread karst landforms. Lacking superficial runoff, the water stored into the subsoil represents the only resource, to be protected and pre- served. The geological and geographical characteristics of Apulia make freshwater resources very fragile and subjected to degradation via both seawater intrusion and anthropogenic pollution, especially along its coast- lines, where a high number of wells are present. The worst situation occurs in central Apulia where a high salinity area crosses the whole peninsula, linking the two sides of the region, a sort of underground connec- tion between the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. Further, anthropogenic pollution contributes to reduction of freshwater resource volume, through high rates of in- dustrial and agricultural chemical pollution (i.e., PCA, PCB, oil, pesticides, etc.), and microbiological pollution (i.e., fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli, etc.) close to wastewater treatment plants. The only efficient app- roach to protect freshwater resource, in such a fragile setting, is represented by monitoring actions. At this goal, the only two caves in Apulia reaching ground- water have become hydrogeological natural labora- tories. There, two multiparameter probes have been installed to measure temperature, electrical conduc- tivity and water level. Groundwater quality has been assessed by chemical and microbiological analyses, and through biospeleological studies to ascertain the pre- sence of species characteristics of unpolluted environ- ment. All these actions, necessary to assess the ground- water quantity and quality, should be continued and guarantee a full comprehension of available Apulian groundwater resources.
Recommended Citation
Serena Liso,, Isabella Presenter, "Complexity and Fragility of Apulian Groundwater Resources" (2020). Conservation of Fragile Karst Resources Proceedings. 7.
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/con_karst_res_proc/con_karst_pro_2020/day_two/7
Complexity and Fragility of Apulian Groundwater Resources
Complexity and Fragility of Apulian Groundwater Resources
Isabella Serena Liso¹ and Mario Parise¹
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Aldo Moro University, Italy
Abstract
Apulia, southern Italy, is an almost entirely carbonate peninsula, with widespread karst landforms. Lacking superficial runoff, the water stored into the subsoil represents the only resource, to be protected and pre- served. The geological and geographical characteristics of Apulia make freshwater resources very fragile and subjected to degradation via both seawater intrusion and anthropogenic pollution, especially along its coast- lines, where a high number of wells are present. The worst situation occurs in central Apulia where a high salinity area crosses the whole peninsula, linking the two sides of the region, a sort of underground connec- tion between the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. Further, anthropogenic pollution contributes to reduction of freshwater resource volume, through high rates of in- dustrial and agricultural chemical pollution (i.e., PCA, PCB, oil, pesticides, etc.), and microbiological pollution (i.e., fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli, etc.) close to wastewater treatment plants. The only efficient app- roach to protect freshwater resource, in such a fragile setting, is represented by monitoring actions. At this goal, the only two caves in Apulia reaching ground- water have become hydrogeological natural labora- tories. There, two multiparameter probes have been installed to measure temperature, electrical conduc- tivity and water level. Groundwater quality has been assessed by chemical and microbiological analyses, and through biospeleological studies to ascertain the pre- sence of species characteristics of unpolluted environ- ment. All these actions, necessary to assess the ground- water quantity and quality, should be continued and guarantee a full comprehension of available Apulian groundwater resources.
Comments
This presentation was part of the Poster/Flash-talk Session.