Abstract
The paper proposes a study for the delineation of protection zones in the main discharge area of the Gran Sasso aquifer (Central Italy). At this aim, starting from a detailed geological and hydrogeological reconstruction, the study was divided into the following phases: 1) development of a conceptual model of water flow in the study area; 2) creation of a 3D numerical model in order to simulate the groundwater flow in saturated conditions, both at the basin and at fine-scale; 3) flow path analysis through deterministic and stochastic approaches; 4) assessment of the aquifer vulnerability based on a geomorphological analysis of the catchment area. Conceptual and numerical models were then used to delineate protection zones for wells and springs with chronological criterion and geomorphological-structural criterion (based on the EPIK method). The results show that with a chronological approach protection zones are located along the main flow directions, corresponding to the areas surrounding wells and springs with high hydraulic conductivity values (faults and thrusts) within the satured zone. On the contrary, the geomorphological method has found some important protection zones also quite far from wells and springs, in areas characterized by quick infiltration processes. The protection zones delineated with the stochastic method were finally intersected by the vulnerability map obtained with the EPIK method, to take into account both filtration and infiltration processes. The results show the local vulnerability of the groundwater to the pollution, with protection zones extending 1 to 5 km towards northeast from springs and wells.
Highlights
The problem of the supply and the protection of groundwater resources is currently a highly topical subject
A fine-scale hydrogeological conceptual model was reconstructed and used to develop a groundwater flow model and to delineate proper protection zones for wells and springs in the studied area with different methods: 1) a chronological method, based on flow simulation in saturated medium with both a deterministic and stochastic approach; 2) a vulnerability-based approach (EPIK method); 3) a combination of the two previous methods, in order to take into account both the filtration and infiltration processes
The immediate protection zone corresponds to areas where the capture probability is higher than 70% and contaminants can reach the groundwater (S1 and S2 of EPIK method);
Summary
The problem of the supply and the protection of groundwater resources is currently a highly topical subject. The present report aims to update the prior knowledge about the main discharge area of the aquifer, where more than 75% of the groundwater flowing in the aquifer rises to the surface supplying springs and a large public-water service The interest for this area is related to its great availability of groundwater resources and to contamination issues. Nowadays it is obviously a prime socio-economic issue to guarantee the protection of the water resource against further impact To this aim, a fine-scale hydrogeological conceptual model was reconstructed and used to develop a groundwater flow model and to delineate proper protection zones for wells and springs in the studied area with different methods: 1) a chronological method, based on flow simulation in saturated medium with both a deterministic and stochastic approach; 2) a vulnerability-based approach (EPIK method); 3) a combination of the two previous methods, in order to take into account both the filtration and infiltration processes
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