[Current rules and laws, good points for the future]

Not available [In Italian]

[Geological and hydrogeological markers for prevention and reduction of radon exposition risk]

Not available [In Italian]

[Ground sorce heat pump systems, “superbonus”, opportunities for the economy and the environment]

Not available [In Italian]

[The 5th National Meeting on Hydrogeology Flowpath 2021, finally face-to-face!]

Not available [In Italian]

[The renewability of the groundwater resource in clean-up interventions: legal assumptions and technical implications of environmental sustainability]

[This Technical Note highlights some legal aspects and technical principles closely related to the concept of ground water renewability, in as far as this concept is considered when designing and implementing environmental clean-up projects and works. After outlining the quantitative importance of groundwater in meeting Italian water demand, some key points of the current regulations are commented on, and some practical guidelines are proposed which could be adopted during remediation of groundwater at contaminated sites, aiming at the protection and qualitative-quantitative restoration of the aquifers as an indication of sustainability]. [In Italian]

Closing the year 2021… being on track for 2022!

We are approaching the end of year 2021, certainly not without difficulties and complications. Even in this non-trivial context, the community working on groundwater continued in its commitment and production, both at national and international level. We wish to recall that this year our Journal got impacted in the SCOPUS database since Volume 1 published in June 2012 [...].

Resilience to climate change: adaptation strategies for the water supply system of Formia and Gaeta (Province of Latina, Central Italy)

The aqueduct serving the municipalities of Formia and Gaeta (Latina province, Italy), an area under the enforcement and control responsibility of “ATO 4” Autorità d’Ambito Territoriale Ottimale – (Integrated Urban Water Management Agency), is supplied by two important karst springs. These springs, fed by the western Aurunci Mountains system are known as Mazzoccolo and Capodacqua having an average flow rates of 1100 l/s and 1300 l/s, respectively. Although these sources have been used since ancient Roman times and the quality of their water is excellent, variations in the precipitation regime, possibly related to worldwide climate changes, has exacerbated the following problems: a decrease in the flow rates of the springs caused by the reduction in winter rainfall, and an increase of turbidity due to concentrated rainfall events. In order to mitigate these problems, which affect a resident population of about 150,000 inhabitants, Acqualatina S.p.A. - the water utility company - promoted a series of geological and hydrogeological surveys. These studies aim at increasing the knowledge on the geological setting and to find additional sources to improve the existing supply. Within the framework of these activities, we studied a strategy aimed at diversifying the water supply by identifying new exploitable aquifers in the area, to reduce the aforementioned problems. This paper presents the results of research carried out before and during the construction of the water well field “25 Ponti” located in the coastal area of the plain of Formia. The research consisted in laboratory analyses of 130 groundwater samples and in monitoring of piezometric trends. The data show a seasonal variation in groundwater chemical composition caused also by aquifer exploitation, which in some periods of the year affects the regulated reserves. This seasonal phenomenon was however present in absence of pumping.

Groundwater exploitation in Awka (Anambra – Nigeria) and environs: Prospects, and challenges while drilling and its mitigation measures

Groundwater exploitation (borehole drilling) was carried out around Awka and environs in Anambra State, Southeastern Nigeria, to understand the underlying rock units encountered while drilling, differentiate boreholes with confined aquifers from those with unconfined aquifers, delineate the probable aquiferous zones from the borehole data, evaluate the challenges encountered while drilling (both geologic and technical), and identify mitigation measures employed to address these challenges. Detailed geologic log information of the boreholes was produced to illustrate the rock units encountered while drilling. Four rock units were identified, namely: shale, sandstone, clay, and gravel. These rock units were exposed within the Imo Formation and the Nanka Formation that underlie the study area. Results from the geologic log information of the boreholes indicate that the water table within the study area ranges from 11.2 m to 56.5 m from the soil surface, and the probable aquiferous zones vary from 6.8 m to 23.3 m in thickness. A detailed look at the lithologic logs of the boreholes show that 50% of the drilled boreholes possess confined aquifers while the remaining 50% have unconfined aquifers. A careful appraisal of the challenges encountered, which are mainly geologic, is strictly attributed to the geologic formation of the study area. Other technical challenges have been derived from mechanical faults developed during drilling.

Impact of North Atlantic Oscillation on water resources in South Western Poland

The paper presents the influence of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) on the water resources, especially considering groundwater discharge (baseflow) in south-western Poland. The impact of long-term changes of meteorological conditions on the water resources of this area in the 1966-2015 was determined on the basis of changes in the baseflow and total stream flow. Statistical analysis of meteorological and hydrological data showed that the runoff from the Sudeten mountain range and its foreground depends on the circulating climate factors (like the NAO). The annual NAO index best describes the variability of the average annual (12-month) total stream flow and groundwater discharge calculated from February to January and March to February, while the winter NAO index best describes the variability of the average annual (12-month) total stream flow and groundwater discharge calculated from March to February and April to March. The winter NAO index also best describes the variability of the average six-month (6-month) stream flow and groundwater discharge calculated from April to September. In the above-mentioned cases, the values of the Pearson correlation coefficient are at a high level and reach the value of -0.65.

Studies on water resources salinization along the Italian coast: 30 years of work

The population density on the Italian coasts is twice the national average. Numerous urban, economic, and productive settlements lie along the coast, which in many areas have altered the natural characteristics of the territory. Moreover, recent climate change studies forecast large impacts on the hydrologic cycle in the Mediterranean. Thus, in the next years, coastal water resources will be gradually more stressed. This in turn may result in a progressive salinization, which is a widespread and worrying phenomenon worldwide. In this paper, the historical and geographical distribution of peer-review studies focusing on the salinization of water resources along the Italian coasts will be critically discussed.