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Salt contamination of Apulian aquifers: spatial and time trend
Type
Conference paper
Language
English
Editor(s)
Status
Published
Issued date
2008
Conference Location
Cagliari
Abstract
The quality of groundwater of Apulian carbonate aquifers is severely affected by salt contamination due to seawater intrusion. Due the scarcity of surface water resources, the characterization of groundwater quality degradation risks and of spatial and temporal trend of degradation are particularly important in the region.
To pursue these results considering the risk of salt contamination due to seawater intrusion, a simple salinity threshold approach, based on the determination of a single value dividing fresh groundwater from seawater contaminated groundwater, is proposed for Apulian groundwater. The threshold can be considered equal to 0.5 g/l for the Apulian karstic and costal aquifers. The spatial trend of 0.5 g/l salinity contour line in the period 1981-2003 is characterized. Along the areas close to the Adriatic and Ionian shoreline groundwater saline contamination is resulted to be a long-standing phenomenon. Only the Murgia interior and a restricted strip in the middle of the Salentine Peninsula have not been contaminated so far.
The salt contamination is also characterized considering 17 time series of monthly chloride concentration, a parameter which can highlight the seawater contamination effects. Data from 1968 to 2001 are considered and compared with rainfall and temperature time series. The increased saline contamination is closely related to droughty years and to the increasing discharge by wells. Before 1980, no significant concentration increase was reported in the majority of wells. The phenomenon became apparent in the late 80s after some dry years that result in a reduced recharge of aquifers and increased groundwater withdrawals. Time series of mean annual values of specific electrical conductivity are also discussed.
It is confirmed the existence of areas considerable protected from the seawater intrusion, of areas exhibited in serious manner to the salt pollution and, finally, of an immense portion of territory in which the quality of the groundwater depends exclusively from our capacity to manage the water resources.
To pursue these results considering the risk of salt contamination due to seawater intrusion, a simple salinity threshold approach, based on the determination of a single value dividing fresh groundwater from seawater contaminated groundwater, is proposed for Apulian groundwater. The threshold can be considered equal to 0.5 g/l for the Apulian karstic and costal aquifers. The spatial trend of 0.5 g/l salinity contour line in the period 1981-2003 is characterized. Along the areas close to the Adriatic and Ionian shoreline groundwater saline contamination is resulted to be a long-standing phenomenon. Only the Murgia interior and a restricted strip in the middle of the Salentine Peninsula have not been contaminated so far.
The salt contamination is also characterized considering 17 time series of monthly chloride concentration, a parameter which can highlight the seawater contamination effects. Data from 1968 to 2001 are considered and compared with rainfall and temperature time series. The increased saline contamination is closely related to droughty years and to the increasing discharge by wells. Before 1980, no significant concentration increase was reported in the majority of wells. The phenomenon became apparent in the late 80s after some dry years that result in a reduced recharge of aquifers and increased groundwater withdrawals. Time series of mean annual values of specific electrical conductivity are also discussed.
It is confirmed the existence of areas considerable protected from the seawater intrusion, of areas exhibited in serious manner to the salt pollution and, finally, of an immense portion of territory in which the quality of the groundwater depends exclusively from our capacity to manage the water resources.
References
Beneduce, P., Festa, V., Francioso, R., Schiattarella, M., Tropeano, M., 2004. Conflicting drainage patterns in the Matera Horst Area, southern Italy. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, 29, 717–724.
Colucci V, Limoni P.P., Serravezza, C., 1998. La rete di controllo idrometrografico e qualitativo delle falde idriche pugliesi. Acque Sotterranee, Anno XV, 59, 55-61.
Cotecchia, V., Polemio, M., 1999. Apulian groundwater (Southern Italy) salt pollution monitoring network. Flemish Journal of Natural Science, Ghent; Belgium, 197-204.
Cotecchia, V., Tadolini T., Tulipano, L., 1983. Sea water intrusion in the planning of groundwater resources protection and utilization in the Apulia region (Southern Italy). 8th SWIM, Geol. Appl. e Idrog., Bari; Italy, 367-382.
Cotecchia, V., Tadolini, T., Tittozzi, P., 1973. Precipitazioni secche in Puglia e loro influenze sul chimismo delle acque alimentanti la falda sotterranea. Geologia Applicata e Idrogeologia, 8/II, Bari, Italy, 253-284.
Cotecchia, V., Grassi, D., Polemio, M., 2005. Carbonate aquifers in Apulia and seawater intrusion. Giornale di Geologia Applicata, 1, “Some Engineering Geology case histories in Italy” Special Iussue for 32nd IGC, Florence, 2004, 219-231.
Grassi, D., 1983. Difformità di ambiente idrogeologico promossa in seno alla Piattaforma Carbonatica Appula da un’evoluzione tettonico-carsica differenziata. Geol. Appl. e Idrogeol., Bari, Italy, 18, I, 209-239.
Lambeck, K., Antonioli, F., Purcella, A., Silenzic, S., 2004. Sea-level change along the Italian coast for the past 10,000 yr. Quaternary Science Reviews, 23, 1567–1598.
LL.PP., 1989. Piano regionale generale degli acquedotti (Regione Puglia). Ministero dei Lavori Pubblici, Bari, Italy.
Polemio, M., Casarano, D., 2004. Rainfall and drought in southern Italy (1821-2001). The Basis of Civilization – Water Science?, IAHS Publ. 286, 217-227.
Polemio, M., Limoni, P.P., 2006. Groundwater pollution and risks for the coastal environment (South-Eastern Italy). Prediction in ungauged basins: promises and progress, edited by Sivapalan, M. et al, 303, IAHS Press, Wallingford, UK.
Polemio, M., Limoni, P.P., 2001. L’evoluzione dell'inquinamento salino delle acque sotterranee della Murgia e del Salento. Memorie della Società Geologica Italiana, 56, 327-331.
Polemio. M.. 2000. Degradation risk owing to contamination and overdraft for Apulian groundwater resources (Southern Italy). Water resources management in a vulnerable environment for sustainable development, Edito da K. Andah, UNESCO-IHP, Grifo Publishers, Perugia, 185-194.
Regione Puglia, 1984. Piano regionale Risanamento delle Acque. Regional council deliberation 455 of 1983, BUR, XV, 57, 1-8, Bari, Italy.
Colucci V, Limoni P.P., Serravezza, C., 1998. La rete di controllo idrometrografico e qualitativo delle falde idriche pugliesi. Acque Sotterranee, Anno XV, 59, 55-61.
Cotecchia, V., Polemio, M., 1999. Apulian groundwater (Southern Italy) salt pollution monitoring network. Flemish Journal of Natural Science, Ghent; Belgium, 197-204.
Cotecchia, V., Tadolini T., Tulipano, L., 1983. Sea water intrusion in the planning of groundwater resources protection and utilization in the Apulia region (Southern Italy). 8th SWIM, Geol. Appl. e Idrog., Bari; Italy, 367-382.
Cotecchia, V., Tadolini, T., Tittozzi, P., 1973. Precipitazioni secche in Puglia e loro influenze sul chimismo delle acque alimentanti la falda sotterranea. Geologia Applicata e Idrogeologia, 8/II, Bari, Italy, 253-284.
Cotecchia, V., Grassi, D., Polemio, M., 2005. Carbonate aquifers in Apulia and seawater intrusion. Giornale di Geologia Applicata, 1, “Some Engineering Geology case histories in Italy” Special Iussue for 32nd IGC, Florence, 2004, 219-231.
Grassi, D., 1983. Difformità di ambiente idrogeologico promossa in seno alla Piattaforma Carbonatica Appula da un’evoluzione tettonico-carsica differenziata. Geol. Appl. e Idrogeol., Bari, Italy, 18, I, 209-239.
Lambeck, K., Antonioli, F., Purcella, A., Silenzic, S., 2004. Sea-level change along the Italian coast for the past 10,000 yr. Quaternary Science Reviews, 23, 1567–1598.
LL.PP., 1989. Piano regionale generale degli acquedotti (Regione Puglia). Ministero dei Lavori Pubblici, Bari, Italy.
Polemio, M., Casarano, D., 2004. Rainfall and drought in southern Italy (1821-2001). The Basis of Civilization – Water Science?, IAHS Publ. 286, 217-227.
Polemio, M., Limoni, P.P., 2006. Groundwater pollution and risks for the coastal environment (South-Eastern Italy). Prediction in ungauged basins: promises and progress, edited by Sivapalan, M. et al, 303, IAHS Press, Wallingford, UK.
Polemio, M., Limoni, P.P., 2001. L’evoluzione dell'inquinamento salino delle acque sotterranee della Murgia e del Salento. Memorie della Società Geologica Italiana, 56, 327-331.
Polemio. M.. 2000. Degradation risk owing to contamination and overdraft for Apulian groundwater resources (Southern Italy). Water resources management in a vulnerable environment for sustainable development, Edito da K. Andah, UNESCO-IHP, Grifo Publishers, Perugia, 185-194.
Regione Puglia, 1984. Piano regionale Risanamento delle Acque. Regional council deliberation 455 of 1983, BUR, XV, 57, 1-8, Bari, Italy.
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