Salinity variations in the water resources fed by the Etnean volcanic aquifers (Sicily, Italy): natural vs. anthropogenic causes

Abstract

In this paper, in an attempt to reveal possible changes connected to natural or anthropogenic causes, the main results of hydrogeochemical monitoring carried out at Mount Etna are evaluated. We report on the salinity contents of the groundwaters that flow in fractured volcanics, which make up the flanks of the volcano. These waters, analyzed for major ion chemistry, were sampled regularly from 1994 to 2004. Basing on nonparametric Sen's slope estimator, time series of groundwater composition reveal that the salinity of most of the Etnean aquifers increased by 0.5% to 3.5% each year during this period. This change in the water chemistry is clearly referable to the overexploitation of the aquifers. This increasing trend needs to be inverted urgently; otherwise, it will cause a shortage of water in the near future, because the maximum admissible concentration of salinity for drinking water will be exceeded.

Development of a Conductivity Sensor for Monitoring Groundwater Resources to Optimize Water Management in Smart City Environments

“…Besides, they are easier to measure than the presence of a specific ion. Some studies analyzed TDS [ 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 ], others studied the EC [ 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 ], a small part of them studied both parameters [ 37 , 38 , 39 ] and, in [ 40 ], other authors measured other parameters (g/L). Most of these studies (60%) analyzed the problem of salinization from a static point of view.…”

“…However, not all of these studies analyzed the same phenomena. Works presented in [ 27 , 28 ] were focused on long term evolution but authors studied the anthropogenic and natural causes and do not focus the work on the extraction of water supplies.…”

Geochemical Characterization of Groundwater in a Volcanic System

“…It is the tallest active volcano in Europe and one of the most active volcanoes in the world [1]. The volcanic deposits are the most important groundwater reservoir for the entire Sicily, as it is the only drinking water resource for over one million people who live at distances of more than 100 km [2]. The volcano rises over an important regional tectonic system, which causes the crust to break up into an intricate system of fractures and faults that together with geology, paleotopography and geometry of the sedimentary basement are the major factors governing the groundwater flow in the area.…”

Nitrate, sulphate and chloride contents in public drinking water supplies in Sicily, Italy

“…1c) and its very poor management in recent decades have led to occasional severe water shortages in many parts of the island. The main problems arise from the distribution network, some parts of which lose more than 50% of the transported water (38% on average), but there are also water quality issues due to salinization and contamination of some of the aquifers (Ferrara 1991;Aiuppa et al 2003;D'Alessandro et al 2011). Such problems mean that about 40% of households in Sicily to experience irregularities in water distribution, compared to an Italian national average of about 16%, and more than 63% have concerns about the quality a Administrative subdivision of Sicily into nine provinces (AG Agrigento, CL Caltanissetta, CT Catania, EN Enna, ME Messina, PA Palermo, RG Ragusa, SR Siracusa, TP Trapani) and population distribution; symbol dimension is proportional to the population of each municipality (circles represent municipalities where at least one sample was collected, while squares represent those where no sample was collected).…”