Karstic sources of water supply for large consumers in Southeastern Europe – sustainability, disputes and advantages

Abstract

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.

Twenty years of global groundwater research: A Science Citation Index Expanded-based bibliometric survey (1993–2012)

“…There is also a growing reliance on groundwater for ''water supply'' around the world, although this function is threatened by groundwater over-exploitation, seawater intrusion, and water-quality deterioration (Stevanovic and Eftimi, 2010). Therefore, research has focused on optimizing water-supply schemes to (i) minimize environmental degradation (Voivontas et al, 2003), (ii) solve health problems resulting from exposure to contaminated groundwater (Dangendorf et al, 2002), and (iii) explore efficient technologies for clean water supply (Macedonio et al, 2012).…”

Distribution, discharge and regional characteristics of springs in Poland

“…This is understandable since they are usually high discharge outflows. Thus, karst springs are used as a source of drinking water as well as for agriculture and power generation (Kresic and Stevanovic, 2010;Stevanovic and Eftimi, 2010). Most of the works are case studies.…”

Karst Aquifers—Characterization and Engineering

“…Freshwater was also tapped by tubes or specially constructed bells driven down spring outlets or amphorae turned upside down to catch the flow (Bakalowicz et al 2003a). Many cities in the Mediterranean basin, one of the World's cradles of civilizations, were built near large sources of freshwater (Stevanović and Eftimi 2010;). An important role in this case was played by the position of impermeable barriers which dictate the drainage point to be below sea level or above it.…”