Abstract
Archeological sites close to coastal volcanic-sedimentary aquifers are threatened by groundwater contaminated by natural and anthropogenic processes. The paper reports on a hydrogeological, chemical (major, minor and trace elements) and isotopic (δD-H2O, δ18O-H2O, δ15N-NO3, δ18O-NO3, δ11B, 222Rn) survey of groundwater at the Cumae archaeological site, which is located in the coastal north-western sector of the volcanic district of Phlegraean Fields (southern Italy), where groundwater flooding phenomena occur. Results show the presence of a complex coastal volcanic-sedimentary aquifer system where groundwater quality is influenced mainly by: (i) aquifer lithology and localized ascent of magmatic fluids along buried volcano-tectonic discontinuities, (ii) mixing of groundwater, deep mineralized fluids and seawater during groundwater pumping, and (iii) nitrate contamination >50 mg/L from non-point agricultural sources. Moreover, δD and δ18O point toward fast recharge from seasonal precipitations, while the isotopic ratios of N and O in nitrate reveal the contribution of mineral and organic fertilizers as well as leakage from septic tanks. Results can assist the local archaeological authority for the safeguarding and management of the archaeological heritage of the Cumae site.
Highlights
Coastal aquifers are generally used to supply freshwater, especially in arid and semiarid areas [1].More than 60% of the global population is concentrated in coastal areas comprising only 10% of theEarth’s surface
Coastal aquifer water quality can be endangered by high groundwater demand related to population growth and climate changes leading to a change of the dynamic equilibrium between fresh groundwater and seawater intrusion [4,7,8,9]
The main purpose of the present study was to investigate, by means of a multidisciplinary approach, a whole hydrologic year to comprehensively assess for the first time the main natural and anthropogenic processes influencing, at the site scale, groundwater quality in the Cumae archaeological site with a catchment approach
Summary
Coastal aquifers are generally used to supply freshwater, especially in arid and semiarid areas [1]. This percentage is expected to rise to 75% [2,3]. Water 2020, 12, 3463 and agricultural/industrial uses [5] threatens water resources. This is even more dramatic in arid and semiarid areas where periods of higher demand for freshwater coincide with those of greater water scarcity [2]. Coastal aquifer water quality can be endangered by high groundwater demand related to population growth and climate changes leading to a change of the dynamic equilibrium between fresh groundwater and seawater intrusion [4,7,8,9]
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