Hydrogeology of the western Po plain (Piedmont, NW Italy)

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper describes the hydrogeological map of the western Po Plain, located in Piedmont (north-western Italy). Po plain represents a hydrogeological system of European relevance, and the Piedmont Plain is the most important groundwater reservoir of the Region. The 1:300,000 scale map was realised using previous and new data to update the knowledge of this area. The map provides information about the hydrogeological complexes and their type and degree of permeability, water table levels and depth, piezometric level fluctuation, lithostratigraphic cross-sections, thickness, and percentage of the permeable deposits between 0 and 50 m from the ground surface. All this information is essential to public administrations, stakeholders, researchers, and professionals for defining possible tools for groundwater protection and management and for planning new groundwater exploitation (i.e. municipal drinking water supplies).