Stefania Stevenazzi

Carbonate rocks cover about 15% of the global continental surface and represent important water resources in terms of water quality and availability. The understanding of groundwater flows in karst aquifers is beneficial for satisfying human water demand, avoiding potential conflicts among users and preserving groundwater dependent ecosystems, that is for a sustainable management of water resources. The consequences of water utilization in karst areas are revealed through monitoring activities of hydrochemical characteristics and water utilization (withdrawals and piezometric levels).We investigated the hydrogeological relationship between two neighboring carbonate aquifers, which were considered as two separate aquifer units in the past. Archival and newly acquired data on groundwater availability, hydrochemical and isotopic features were considered. Their combined use led to the proposal of new hypotheses regarding the connection between these aquifers. This issue is not only of scientific relevance but also has practical implications; indeed, there are important springs and well fields providing water to about 3.8 million inhabitants.The aquifers examined in this study are the carbonate mountains of Mt. Maggiore and Mt. Tifata located in Campania Region in Southern Italy. The mountains are geographically separated by the Volturno River valley, filled with alluvial-pyroclastic deposits. The aquifers have been exploited for drinking purposes since the late 1980s. The exploitation of these aquifers and the availability of historical and recent data (i.e., long-term monitoring) revealed their hydrogeological connection. This connection would be induced by the strong groundwater withdrawals from the well fields at Mt. Tifata (located south of the Volturno River). In fact, the exploitation provoked the depletion of the groundwater table and the disappearance of the major spring. The connection, with groundwater flowing from Mt. Maggiore to Mt. Tifata, can explain the absence of signs of overexploitation in the groundwater of Mt. Tifata even in the presence of withdrawals that exceed the natural recharge of the aquifers. As a consequence of the connection, a recall of mineralized waters characteristic of the southern portion of Mt. Maggiore has been observed in well fields at Mt. Tifata. At Mt. Maggiore the mineralization of groundwater is related to local faults, while moving away from them the mineralization is greatly reduced. This opens broader prospects for water utilization, for example, a more specific use for mineralized waters (such as bottling, balneotherapy, etc.) and a potable use in areas distant from the mineralized zone. In conclusion, as revealed in this study, stakeholders and water managers need to consider these carbonate aquifers as a whole groundwater body (i.e., not anymore as separated aquifers) when planning their utilization.

The spatio-temporal evolution of groundwater chemistry has seen an increase in interest over the last decade at a global level. Identifying and discerning the sources of the natural and anthropogenic compounds and the actual hydrochemical processes, as well as their evolution, is essential to support a sustainable planning for managing and protecting groundwater resources at the present time and in the future. The main objective of this study is the comparison of two study areas in Italy (Piedmont and Campania Regions), different in their geographical and geological contexts and climate conditions, to highlight the similarities and differences in the hydrogeochemical behavior in space and time. Three main ions were considered (NO3 –, SO4 2–, Na+) and analyzed to identify the sources and hydrochemical processes responsible for their spatial distribution in the 2015-2020 period and evaluate the existence and the potential causes of trends in their concentration for the 2000-2020 period. Results highlight specific factors and processes distinguishing the spatial distribution and temporal variability of ion concentrations in Piedmont and Campania study areas. These processes are mainly related to the geological and geographical features of the study areas. In both areas, a significant influence of anthropogenic pressures emerges for both spatial and temporal evolutions, with remarkably increasing trends in NO3 – concentrations. In conclusion, some factors and processes emerge as site-specific, mainly related to the geological aspects and natural hydrochemical processes, whereas others are in common (i.e., anthropogenic impacts); thus, reinforcing the advantage of making comparative studies.

In this study, we present the hydrogeological, hydrogeochemical and isotopic characterisation and monitoring activity of a closed landfill located in the northern sector of the Phlegrean Fields groundwater body in the Campania Region (Southern Italy). The aim of the study is to distinguish between natural enrichments (e.g., geogenic sources) and anthropogenic pressures (e.g., leakages from the landfill body) causing anomalously high concentrations of some metals (As, F, Fe, Mn) in groundwater. Major anions, cations, metals, water-stable isotopes, carbon isotopes and tritium were analysed. The results show that high As, F and Fe concentrations are due to adsorption–desorption processes occurring in the aquifer hosted in the volcanic rocks/deposits or the occurrence of upwelling hydrothermal fluids related to the volcanic activity of the Phlegrean Fields, which may cause metal mobilisation. High localised Mn concentrations cannot be solely related to natural processes or to groundwater contamination due to leachate leakage from the landfill body. Instead, we hypothesise a leakage from the landfill gas system. The outcomes of this study show the advantages of the coupled use of physico-chemical and isotopic analyses in improving the comprehension of geochemical processes in areas characterised by the presence of municipal landfills.

Fin dalla sua costituzione, il gruppo ECHN-Italy mira ad incoraggiare il coinvolgimento nell’Associazione IAH dei giovani idrogeologi italiani, promuovendo il dibattito e la condivisione di conoscenze ed esperienze sulle principali problematiche idrogeologiche del nostro Paese e facilitando l’interazione con i membri del Comitato IAH-Italy [...].

Tutti gli esseri umani nascono liberi ed eguali in dignità e diritti. Essi sono dotati di ragione e di coscienza e devono agire gli uni verso gli altri in spirito di fratellanza. Articolo 1, Dichiarazione universale dei diritti umani, 10 dicembre 1948