Abstract
The population concentration in coastal areas and the increase of groundwater discharge in combination with the peculiarities of karstic coastal aquifers constitute a huge worldwide problem, which is particularly relevant for coastal aquifers of the Mediterranean basin. This paper offers a review of scientific activities realized to pursue the optimal utilization of Apulian coastal groundwater. Apulia, with a coastline extending for over 800 km, is the Italian region with the largest coastal karst aquifers. Apulian aquifers have suffered both in terms of water quality and quantity. Some regional regulations were implemented from the 1970s with the purpose of controlling the number of wells, well locations, and well discharge. The practical effects of these management criteria, the temporal and spatial trend of recharge, groundwater quality, and seawater intrusion effects are discussed based on long-term monitoring. The efficacy of existing management tools and the development of predictive scenarios to identify the best way to reconcile irrigation and demands for high-quality drinking water have been pursued in a selected area. The Salento peninsula was selected as the Apulian aquifer portion exposed to the highest risk of quality degradation due to seawater intrusion. The capability of large-scale numerical models in groundwater management was tested, particularly for achieving forecast scenarios to evaluate the impacts of climate change on groundwater resources. The results show qualitative and quantitative groundwater trends from 1930 to 2060 and emphasize the substantial decrease of the piezometric level and a serious worsening of groundwater salinization due to seawater intrusion.
Highlights
In focusing on high-quality groundwater resources, which are larger than superficial water resources but less renewable, the main risks of degradation can be categorized into two types (Figure 1).The first type, quality degradation, is partly caused by intrinsic aquifer characteristics, which determine the aquifer vulnerability, and by the existence of pollution sources due to anthropization as well as sources of salinization, which, though natural, can lead to the phenomenon of seawater intrusion [1]
The results show qualitative and quantitative groundwater trends from 1930 to 2060 and emphasize the substantial decrease of the piezometric level and a serious worsening of groundwater salinization due to seawater intrusion
As a result of seawater intrusion, wells could be abandoned and/or large volumes of fresh groundwater could be salinized to the point that it becomes dangerous for a number of uses, causing reduction of both groundwater quality and availability [2]
Summary
In focusing on high-quality groundwater resources, which are larger than superficial water resources but less renewable, the main risks of degradation can be categorized into two types (Figure 1). In addition to water demand problems, any modification of the quality and quantity of coastal karstic groundwater outflow can severely affect the hydrological and ecological equilibrium of a coastal water body, including highly vulnerable wetlands [9,10]. Mediterranean coastal aquifers highly affected groundwater quality degradation due to seawater andintrusion anthropogenic contamination. Increasing overexploitation negative consequences in terms of seawater intrusion These trends were observed in Italy, where seawater intrusion is the main cause of groundwater groundwater quality degradation in coastal karst aquifers, the largest of which are located in the quality degradation in coastal karst aquifers, the largest of which are located in the Apulian region [15]. Mediterranean aquifers [16,17]
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