The Metaponto coastal plain extends about 40 km along the Ionian coast, between the Sinni and Bradano Rivers (southern Italy). During the 20th century, the increases in modern irrigation systems, land reclamation works, the overexploitation of wells, and agricultural and industrial activities have deeply modified land use and groundwater availability and quality along the plain. These modifications negatively impacted the natural systems in terms of groundwater and soil salinization, magnifying the risks due to seawater intrusion. In this study, we explored the proneness to seawater intrusion, testing a multidisciplinary approach based on hydrochemical and geophysical investigations. A significant portion of the coastal plain was selected for this purpose. A set of 49 groundwater samples was analyzed to define the chemical characteristics of the water and geoelectrical measurements were recorded along three long profiles. The geoelectrical surveys showed in detail the aquifer bottom pattern where it is deeply incised by paleovalleys, defining the main hydrostratigraphic features, as it is necessary to prevent seawater intrusion worsening. The hydrochemical data highlighted areas with higher seawater intrusion proneness. The acquired measurements show the high proneness to seawater intrusion, especially where the aquifer bottom is very deep below the sea level, also far from the coast, and the relevance of the detailed knowledge of the aquifer bottom in supporting any kind of management.
Abstract:The Cesine Wetland, located along the Adriatic coast, was recognized as a Wetland of International Interest and a National Natural Park. Managed by the "World Wide Fund for nature" (WWF), it is considered a groundwater dependent ecosystem which is affected by seawater intrusion. The site was selected to test the environmental compatibility of a low-enthalpy geothermal power plant (closed loop) operating in the aquifer saturated portion with purpose to improving the visitor centre. For this purpose, the long-lasting thermal impact on groundwater was assessed using a multi-methodological approach. The complex aquifer system was carefully studied with geological, hydrogeological and geochemical surveys, including chemical and isotopic laboratory analyses of surface water, groundwater and seawater. The isotopes δ 18 O, δD, δ 11 B, and 3 H were useful to clarify the recharge contribution, the water mixing and the water age. All information was used to improve the conceptualization of the water system, including aquifers and the boundary conditions for a density driven numerical groundwater model. The purpose was to forecast anthropogenic thermal groundwater variations up to 10 years of plant working before the plant realization and to validate the solution after some working years. All results show the environmental compatibility notwithstanding the peculiar ecological environment.
The data presented in this article are related to the research article described by “How can the role of leachate on nitrate concentration and groundwater quality be clarified? An approach for landfills in operation (Southern Italy)” (Cossu et al., 2018).The data set for this article contains chemical analyses of groundwater and leachate, isotope analysis of groundwater and leachate around a group of landfills located in the municipality of Conversano, close to Bari, the main town of the Apulia Region (Southern Italy).Groundwater samples were collected from eighteen wells.The hydrogeological and chemical study was used to define geochemical features, groundwater and leachate characteristics and to study their potential macroscopic mixing.The land use analysis highlighted quantity and type of used fertilizers permitting to compare these with groundwater in terms of isotopic signature.
High nitrate concentration of fresh groundwater of a coastal karstic aquifer, not far from the Apulian regional capital (Southern Italy), caused public concern and alarm from the authorities. The attention of local communities focused on the effect of a group of landfills, the use of which started from 1975, using improved technological and safety devices to reduce groundwater pollution risks.This chapter describes a simple approach based on the spatial and temporal variability of groundwater nitrate concentration (GNC) able to answer to public concern, circumscribing the main source of contamination, discussing of natural background values and spatial/temporal variability of GNC. For this purpose, a wide spatial and temporal range of data were discussed from 2006 to 2018. A regional survey of 2006-2007 was used to define background values or almost natural values of groundwater nitrate concentration (GNC). In the landfill sector, a monthly time series from 2007 to 2013 showed the GNC seasonality and the relationships with rainfall, and the periodical surveys of 2014-2018 showed the geochemical groundwater characteristics and the spatial variability of GNC, in both cases at the detailed scale of the study area.The results show the source is diffuse and should be related to the intensive agriculture activities in the area. The results correspond perfectly with the results obtained using a multimethodological complex and expensive approach based on the use of several parameters, including nitrogen isotopes.
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