The organized hydrogeological investigations in Albania started in 1959, while general hydrogeological prospecting started there in 1963 and finished in 1974. One of the hydrogeological prospecting main goals was the compilation of the hydrogeological map of Albania at a scale of 1:200,000. Hydrogeological maps may differ in content, representation, scale and format, but two main types of these maps are principal: general and/or special hydrogeological maps. The aforementioned map was published in 1985 following principles for general hydrogeological maps as defined in 1970 by IAH/UNESCO, which were subsequently adopted, but also further developed. The areal colours show hydrogeological classification of rocks and the basic elements shown on the map are hydrogeological units. Geological pattern forms the map background, while lithologic units are differed by green colour hatches. Different aquifers and hydrogeological structures identified during the investigations are also shown here, together with important water supply areas of productive drillings and springs. Groundwater quality, thermal springs, seawater intrusion areas and the relation between surface and groundwater can also be recognized. The map published in 1985 can be successfully used until nowadays, not only for the planning purposes, but also as a helping tool in many practical problems of the groundwater use solutions.
Southeastern Europe is known worldwide as classic karst terrain. In the Alpine orogenic belt the karstifi ed carbonate rocks are either dominant, as in the Dinarides, or widely distributed, as in the Carpathian-Balkans, Hellenides or Pindes. Concerning karstic groundwater resources, this region is by far the richest in all of Europe. Some areas, such as southern Montenegro, are characterized by an intensive and high precipitation affecting the water balance. In several countries in the region, water supply from karstic aquifers prevails. There are very large cities with populations of over a half million that depend on a water supply from karst aquifers. Among them are fi ve capitals. Tapping large springs is the traditional method of water supply in the region but the main concern is their unstable discharge regime. This is why many aquifer control projects have been prepared or proposed in the region, particularly in the Mediterranean coastal area. Unfortunately, few have been executed and completed. Even some springs have been abandoned and water supply reoriented towards surface waters or alluvial aquifers. In contrast, with the tapping of the large sublacustrine spring Bolje sestre in Montenegro, the largest of the projects concerning regional water supply in karst is currently being implemented. Some 1.5 m 3 /s of the water from the Skadar basin will supply the coastal zone. It is expected that this project, essential for the national economy, will be completed in 2011. Some other proposed large projects such as overseas karstic spring water transportation from Albania to Italy are still under evaluation. However, large and rich karstic reservoirs in this part of Europe should remain a reliable source for water supply in the future despite some possible negative impacts of climatic variation. There is, in fact, the prospect of and interest in exporting and supplying water to both neighbouring and remote areas.
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