Human impacts on Karst aquifers of Albania

Abstract

Albania is situated in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula, on the eastern coast of the Adriatic and the Ionian Sea. The karst landscape in Albania covers about 6750 km2, approximately 24 % of the Albanian territory. There are 25 karst regions in the country, 23 in carbonate rocks and 2 in evaporites. The total renewable karst water resources are estimated about 227 m3/s, representing 80 % of the groundwater resources of Albania. About 70 % of the population of the cities, including also part of the capital Tirana, obtains the water from karst springs. However, the negative human impacts often are threatening the karst groundwater resources of Albania. Several bad experiences in Albania have demonstrated that the main human negative impacts on karst water are related to: (a) urbanised areas, (b) agriculture activities, and (c) quarrying activities. Understanding the vital importance of karst waters and the necessity for intensive scientific investigations and monitoring, to evidence their high vulnerability, are still at a low level in Albania.