Groundwater Resources in a Complex Karst Environment Involved by Wind Power Farm Construction

Abstract

The need to produce energy from clean energy sources has caused public administrations and private companies to look for suitable places. The windiness detected in the eastern area of the Matese karst massif (southern Italy) has favored the construction of wind farms to produce electricity from clean energy sources. During the installation of the first wind turbines, some alterations in the supply of drinking water, fed by the springs of this area, were attributed by the population to this installation. Therefore, in order to assess whether there has been an impact produced by the wind farms on the quality of groundwater, a detailed hydrogeological study was developed. Karst hydrogeological features of the area were mapped, focusing on endorheic areas, sinkholes and karst springs. Artificial tracer tests were then carried out to investigate groundwater flow circulation and connection between surface karst landforms and springs. Chemical and physical characteristics of the groundwater were monitored during the construction of the wind farms and, for the following months, by infield measurements and laboratory analysis of spring water samples. This study highlights that wind farms mainly develop along the boundary of endorheic areas, which are important recharge zones for groundwater resources, and are directly connected to the major karst springs through sinkholes and a dense network of karst conduits. The results of the monitoring did not reveal any anomalies in the quality of the water and, therefore, any alterations cannot be attributed to the wind farms. Our investigation appears useful for a better understanding of the possible actual and future effects of the wind farms on both groundwater circulation and spring water quality in this karst area.