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Pertuso Spring discharge assessment in the Upper Valley of Aniene River (Central Italy)
Full text linkSustainable management of karst aquifers is animportant tool for the protection of these strategic water resources. Assessing water balance in a karst aquifer can be very difficult,due to the complex interactions and exchanges between groundwater and surface water. Therefore, measurements of streamflow and spring discharges are useful to assess karst aquifers available budget. Water balance calculation requires the estimation of two main parameters: recharge (precipitation, agriculture water, surface runoff, etc.) and discharge (underground outflow) which are affected by the highly heterogeneous distribution of permeability due to conduits and voids developed
by the dissolution of carbonate rocks. This paper deals with the preliminary results of Pertuso Spring groundwater discharge assessment, in the Upper Valley of Aniene River (Central Italy), where the complex hydrogeological characteristics, related to the high heterogeneity of hydraulic properties, make difficult to set up a reliable methodology of measurement. To achieve this objective, an integrated approach based on the streamflow measurements and
geochemical modeling, applied to groundwater and surface water was carried out. Because no continuous discharge measurements of Pertuso Spring were available, different methods (velocity–area using current meter and geochemical assessment) were applied to evaluate the discharge of the spring and the stream flow during the monitoring period from July 2014 to May 2015. Aniene River streamflow measurements were carried out by using the
conventional current-method and the salt dilution method. For the evaluation of the Pertuso Spring discharge, as a support for traditional discharge methodology, various groundwater and surface water monitoring campaigns have been made along the Aniene River, upstream and downstream the Pertuso Spring, for the acquisition of geochemical data. The aim of this study is to present the preliminary results of an indirect method for the estimation of the Pertuso Spring discharge, based on Magnesium concentration changes in groundwater and surface water
Hydrogeological monitoring and characterization of the karst aquifer feeding the Pertuso spring, South east of Latium Region (Central Italy)
No full textThe hydrogeological characterization of water resources is an important tool to evaluate the impacts of infrastructure designs on groundwater and surface water in the aim of achieving sustainable management and protection of these important resources. The identification of hydrogeological processes is important for the preservation and protection of water resources to evaluate the potential environmental impacts. On the bases of Legislative Decree 152/2006, as modified by DM 260/2010, any infrastructure design should take in consideration an Environmental Monitoring Plan, for the hydrogeological settings of the study area. The main objective of this study was to characterize the major environmental components of the upper Valley of Aniene River in the South east of Latium Region (Central Italy). This paper deals with the planning of a multi-displinary monitoring approach related to the exploitation project of the Pertuso spring, which is going to be exploited to supply an important water network of the South part of Roma district. The study area is located in the Upper Valley of Aniene River and belongs to an important karst aquifer, mainly made of dolomitic limestones and dolomites of Cretaceous age. The peculiar fragility of this aquifer, feeding Pertuso spring, requires a special attention for the planning and implementation of monitoring, which regards the surface water and groundwater. For this reason it was interesting to know in details the quantitative characterization of the Pertuso spring, in the aim of to protect catchment area which is directly affect the natural hydrogeological balance of this aquifer. Thus, a multidisciplinary monitoring plan has been set up, including quantitative measurements as well as hydrogeochemical ones, both for the spring with a complex outcoming form and the upper part of Aniene River down-streaming. The Environmental Monitoring Plan and the first approaches will be presented in this study
Utilizzazione delle risorse idriche dell’Alta Valle dell’Aniene
No full textPaper highlights the results of the water balance of Aniene River basin, in the part located between the Pertuso springs and Subiaco. The analysis has been driven on the current state of water resources exploitation in the Upper Valley of Aniene River. This area has a remarkable environmental value, and it is protected by the regional natural park. Paper contributes to a sustainable development of this area.
Therefore, it was taken into consideration the preliminary available official documentation based on the quantitative data of hydroelectric and potable water in the area. Finally, according to the results of water balance, the evolution of current use of water on the Upper Valley of Aniene River has been discussed in the framework of the current laws
Innovative methodology for quantitative and qualitative assessment of water resources in karst aquifers: a case study in southern Lazio region, central Italy
Full text linkThis paper outlines the results of a hydrogeological study carried on from July 2014 to November 2106 to assess quantitatively and qualitatively water resources (groundwater and surface water) emerging in the Upper Valley of the Aniene River (Latium Region, Central Italy). This work deals with the Environmental Monitoring Plan, related to the catchment project of the Pertuso Spring, which is going to be exploited to supply an important water network in the South part of Roma district. The study area is located in the Upper Valley of the Aniene River, in the outcrop of Triassic-Cenozoic carbonate rocks, and belong to an important karst aquifer. Pertuso Spring is the main outlet of this karst aquifer and is the one of the most important water resource in the southeast part of Latium Region, used for drinking, agriculture and hydroelectric supplies. This hydrogeological system is characterized by a strong local hydraulic connectivity between the Aniene River surface water and groundwater coming from the Pertuso Spring.
First at all, in this study, in order to estimate the vulnerability degree of the karst aquifer feeding the Pertuso Spring, the COP method has been applied and vulnerability maps are proposed. Thus, with the aim of highlighting the karst features key-role in the unsaturated zone, a new vulnerability approach has been set up, starting from two discretization approaches. The aim of this work is to compare both results of the intrinsic vulnerability mapping, in order to evaluate which one is the most suitable for the study area.
On the basis of the hydrogeochemical data and their interpretations for groundwater and surface water, monitored from July 2014 to November 2016, a hydrogeological study has been carried on to identify flowpaths and hydrogeochemical processes governing groundwater-surface water interactions in this region. To this end, discharge surveys were carried out on four monitoring sections along the Aniene River. The proposed conceptual model shows that the karst aquifer feeding the Pertuso Spring supplies the Aniene River, highlighting seasonal variability depending on the rainfall regime.
The analysis of solute contents in the monitoring points has suggested the identification of the Magnesium ion as a conservative tracer in this specific system and, consequently, to the development an indirect method for the evaluation of karst spring discharge based on discharge measurements and water geochemical data. This method is based on the elaboration of surface water discharge measurements in relationship with Mg2+ concentration values, determined as for groundwater, coming from the Pertuso Spring, as for surface water samples, collected upstream and downstream the spring, along the Aniene River streamflow. This method has been validated by the comparison with discharge values obtained using the current meter method and by geochemical data.
This study suggests that the application of the Magnesium ion as an environmental tracer may provide a means to evaluate discharge of the Pertuso Spring, as it came up to be a marker of the mixing of surface water and groundwater. On the other hand, the Magnesium ion concentration provides information for the identification of groundwater flow systems and the main hydrogeochemical processes affecting the composition of water within the karst aquifer feeding the Pertuso Spring
Geochemical Characteristics Of Groundwater In The Coastal Aquifers Of Dar Es Salam, Tanzania
No full textGeochemical And Isotopic Evolution Of Mazzoccolo Karst Spring, In Southern Latium Region, Central Italy
No full textThe present study deals with isotopic and geochemical evolution of Mazzoccolo karst spring which is the most important water supply network in southern Latium region, Central Italy. The environmental isotopic and physico-chemical measurements were carried out from 2006 to 2008. The electrical conductivity (EC) and TDS values of water samples varies from 28 to 341 μS/ cm and 103 to 265.8 mg/l with minimum and maximum values, respectively. All sampled spring waters are characterized as Ca-HCO3 type recharge water and can be considered as fresh water with alkaline nature (TDS ˂ 500 mg/l). Calcium is the dominant cation followed by mag-nesium, sodium and potassium, while HCO3 is the dominant anion. Geochemical modeling re-sults show that few samples are saturated with respect to calcite and aragonite and all sampled waters are undersaturated with respect to dolomite and gypsum suggesting Mazzocolo spring is discharged by a conduit flow, characterized by short residence times and low electrical conduc-tivity. Evaluation of isotopic data (i.e. comparison of δ18O and δ2H) show that most of the sam-ples fall to the Local Meteoric Water Line suggesting input to local rain-fall derives from the Mediterranean Sea. The water samples show high deuterium excess values (above + 24‰), which suggests eastern Mediterranean area is the source of moisture. Considering the identified mean elevation of recharge areas, ranging between 748 and 949 m a.s.l., and low mineralization, it can be assumed that Mazzocolo spring is discharged by a perched aquifer with a conduit flow
Quantitative assessment of the karst acquifer feeding the Pertuso spring in the south east of Latium Region
No full textConsiderations On Hydrogeochemical Characteristics Of Groundwater From Carbonate Aquifers Of Southern Latium Region
No full textSpring and well water samples, from carbonate aquifers of Latium region, Central Italy, have been characterized to determine the hydrochemical processes governing the evolution of the groundwater. Most of the spring samples, issuing from Lepini, Ausoni and Aurunci Mts., are characterized as alkaline earth HCO3 waters, however, some samples show a composition of Cl-SO4 alkaline earth type. Groundwater samples from Pontina Plain shows three different hydrochemical facies: alkaline-earth HCO3 type, Cl-SO4 alkaline earth and Cl-SO4 alkaline type waters. Geochemical modeling and saturation index computation of the sampled waters shows an interaction with calcareous and calcareous-dolomitic lithologies. Most of the springs and wells were kinetically saturated with respect to calcite and dolomite, and all the samples were below the equilibrium state with gypsum. This indicates that the groundwater has capacity to dissolve gypsum along the flow paths. Thus, the addition of Ca++ from the dissolution of gypsum could lead to the observed saturation with respect to calcite and dolomite.The electrical conductivity (EC) and Cl- concentrations of the sampled waters show a trend of increase with the decrease in the discharge altitudes of springs and wells highlighting seawater intrusion in the coastal area. Hydrochemistry results show that the dissolution of carbonate formations and seawater intrusion as dominant processes in controlling the hydrochemical characteristics of groundwater in this region
Water Quality Control In Public Supply Springs And Wells Of Viterbo Area, Central Italy
No full textMost people in Viterbo area, Central Italy, meet their domestic needs from groundwater resources. This paper assesses the geochemical characteristics of most part of public water supply network in Viterbo area and their suitability for drinking and agricultural purposes. More than two hundred water samples were collected from springs and wells for the evaluation of water quality parameters and the results were compared to the World Health Organization (WHO) standards. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to water hydrochemical data in the aim of understanding main processes controlling water chemistry. The first two PCs (PC1 and PC2) explain 73.1 % of the total variance within all the measured parameters. Based on the loading plot between the first two components three different groups were identified (Group A: EC, Na, Ca, NO3, Cl and SO4 and T; Group B: Mg, TDS, K, F and HCO3 and Group C: pH) reflecting the main rock types in the area investigated, where the volcanic materials are the most dominant formations. Water samples are characterized by three hydrochemical types: (A) Na-HCO3, (B) Na-Ca HCO3 and (C) Ca -HCO3. The results show that most of the waters within the study area are slightly acidic to slightly alkaline nature with TDS values below 500 mg/l, however some samples from Facies C show higher TDS values (up to 1480 mg/l) and classified as brackish water. The total hardness of water samples from Facies A and B range from 32.3 to 186.3 mg/l and fall between soft and hard water category, while the samples from Facies C classified as soft to very hard water with the highest value of 716.5 mg/l. US Salinity diagram (USDA) was used to evaluate the water quality for irrigation and most water samples distributed in category C1-S1, C2-S1 and C3-S1 highlighting low to high salinity hazard and low sodium content class. According to calculated values of percentage sodium (Na %), magnesium hazard (MH), Kellys ratio (KR) and permeability index (PI), the springs and groundwater are suitable for irrigation. The chemical constituents, such as Ca, Mg, Na, K, Cl, HCO3, SO4 etc., in most of the water samples are within the permissible limits of the World Health Organization (WHO) drinking water quality guidelines. However, the presence of high fluoride (max: 3.23 mg/l), nitrate (max: 100 mg/l), and arsenic (max: 57 mu g/l) concentrations, exceeding the permitted limits in some springs and wells, threat human health in the area
Preliminary results of vulnerability assessment of the karst aquifer feeding pertuso spring, in central Italy
No full textVulnerability assessment of the aquifers is an important tool for the groundwater management and protection. This paper aims to assess the intrinsic vulnerability of the karst aquifer feeding Pertuso spring, which is going to be exploited to supply an important water network of the South part of Rome. The study area is located in the Upper Valley of Aniene river and belongs to an important karst aquifer, mainly composed of dolomitic limestones and dolomites of Cretaceous age. The limestones outcropping in the Upper Valley of Aniene river are deeply fractured and karst erosion has occurred on a large scale in this area. The surface karst activity led to the formation of a typical karst landscape. The hydrogeological framework is therefore closely related to the karst nature of carbonate rocks, constituting the reliefs strongly shaped by surface and underground karst activities. The peculiar fragility of this aquifer, feeding Pertuso spring, requires a special attention to protect catchment area, which is directly affected by the natural hydrogeological budget of the aquifer. Therefore, for the evaluation of vulnerability index and maps COP method was applied considering overlying layers (O), concentration of flow (C) and precipitation regime (P) parameters. The vulnerability of the karst aquifer is classified mainly as moderate, high and very high due to the presence of cemented conglomerates, compact dolomitic limestones and granular limestones, respectively. COP method shows that each factor has a different effect on vulnerability index evaluation, however the highest correlation was observed with O factor due to the absence of soil formations. The results obtained by COP method assess the aquifer vulnerability to contamination and are useful for managing the protection of groundwater resources, especially to avoid contamination of karstic aquifers, and land use planning in the area
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