Evaluation of Groundwater Resources in Minor Plio-Pleistocene Arenaceous Aquifers in Central Italy

Diego Di Curzio,Alessia Di Giovanni,Sergio Rusi,Emanuele Ferretti

doi:10.3390/hydrology8030121

Diego Di Curzio, Alessia Di Giovanni + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology8030121

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Journal: Hydrology	Publication Date: Aug 16, 2021
Citations: 3	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Chieti-Pescara

Abstract

The hilly landscape of the Periadric area in Central Italy is characterized by mainly marly–clayey foredeep basin deposits (Plio–Pleistocene age). These lithotypes are generally considered aquicludes, if compared with the regional limestone aquifers of Apennines. However, a coarsening upward trend characterizes the upper portion of this stratigraphic sequence, with arenaceous deposits and even conglomerates on the top. From a geomorphological viewpoint, the areas with coarser outcrops show a flat shape and sub-vertical slopes, like boundaries. At the base of these scarps, springs can be found at the interface between coarse and fine deposits, whereas these arenaceous bodies are actual aquifers. Until now, the hydrodynamics and hydrochemical features of this kind of aquifer have not been investigated deeply, because they have always been considered a worthy water resource. However, they could play a crucial role in integrated water management, especially to cope with climate changes and drought periods. Considering these, the main purpose of this study was to investigate from a hydrogeological point of view and to assess the groundwater quantity and quality. Five examples throughout the Abruzzo region were considered. For evaluation and comparisons between water resources, the water volume that infiltrates yearly at each squared kilometer of an aquifer (Mm3/y/km2) was applied. This value was calculated through three different approaches to provide a recharge estimation for this kind of aquifer that is as exhaustive and representative as possible. The results allowed us to characterize the hydrogeological model and to quantify the resources between 0.1 and 0.16 Mm3/y/km2, to be suitable for multi–purpose utilization.

Highlights

In recent decades, population growth, industrialization, and urbanization have generated an ever-increasing demand for fresh water [1,2,3]
Population growth, industrialization, and urbanization have generated an ever-increasing demand for fresh water [1,2,3]. This has led to a huge transition from small and local water resource exploitation and distribution networks to regional and more integrated systems that bring water from springs and wells over great distances
Water for drinking, irrigation, hydroelectricity production, and manufacturing mainly come from regional karst or alluvial aquifers [5,6,7,8,9,10,11]

Summary

Introduction

Population growth, industrialization, and urbanization have generated an ever-increasing demand for fresh water [1,2,3]. This has led to a huge transition from small and local water resource exploitation and distribution networks to regional and more integrated systems that bring water from springs and wells over great distances. The principal aqueducts, which have a capillary pipeline system on the order of hundreds of kilometers, distribute groundwater to both the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic coasts (Figure 1) mainly from the karst aquifers in the Apennine Mountains [13,14,15,16] and to a lesser extent from alluvial aquifers [17,18,19,20,21]

Objectives

Results

Conclusion