A Technical Note on the Application of a Water Budget Model at Regional Scale: A Water Manager’s Approach towards a Sustainable Water Resources Management

Stefania Passaretti,Anna Varriale,Claudio Mineo,Claudio Cosentino

doi:10.3390/w14050712

Abstract

Evaluating the quantitative status of groundwater has always represented an attractive method of modelling development for scientific research purposes and, at the same time, an essential planning tool for water managers. Today, in addition to the traditional modelling and management applications, the quantification of groundwater resources increasingly aims at evaluating effective water bodies’ health. In fact, the founding principles introduced by the most recent international directives in terms of water protection are specifically addressed to natural ecosystems’ protection complying with different socio-economic conditions. In this context, Acea Ato2, a water utility operating in central Italy, here proposes the implementation of an analytical water budget model for the assessment of the groundwater potential recharge status throughout its managed area.

Highlights

The assessment of groundwater resources’ quantitative status has always represented an interesting topic of discussion both for scientific researchers and water managers
The primary purpose of this study is to investigate a well-grounded methodology in order to quantify the potential recharge of the aquifers managed by Acea Ato2
Acea Ato2, a water utility operating in central Italy (Latium region), proposes a simple analytical water budget model for assessing the potential recharge of the managed aquifers

Summary

Introduction

The assessment of groundwater resources’ quantitative status has always represented an interesting topic of discussion both for scientific researchers and water managers. The main purpose introduced by WFD is regular and systematic groundwater monitoring, in order to maintain environmental flows, support stream ecology, and promote sustainable water resource exploitation. This approach is systematically taken up by the later European directives and the subsequent Italian decrees, including (i) Ministerial Decree 28/07/2004, which defines the guidelines for the water balance setup at the basin scale, (ii) Legislative Decree 152/2006, which fully transposes the WFD, and (iii) Legislative Decree 30/2009, which establishes a close link between the water bodies and the anthropogenic influence within hydrogeological complexes

Objectives

Methods

Findings

Conclusion