Delle Rose M, 2007, Sedimentological features of the Plio-Quaternary Aquifers of Salento (Puglia), Memorie descrittive della Carta Geologica d'Italia, Workshop "Development in aquifer sedimnetology and groundwater flow studies in Italy", pp. 137–145, Parma, 2007,
URL: http://www.cnr.it/prodotto/i/88797

Salento, the southern part of the Apulia Carbonate Platform, presents a horst and graben tectonics. The uplifted blocks are made up by Cretaceous rocks, while Pliocene and Pleistocene deposits occupy mainly the lowered blocks. Due to the predominance of calcareous rocks, landforms are characterized by karst morphology. About 70% of drinking water demand of the Salento is provided by a Cretaceous carbonatic aquifer which contains a huge mass of fresh water floating over salt water intruded by the Ionian and Adriatic Seas. Several shallow aquifers, used only for irrigation, lie in the Pliocene and Pleistocene units. The current resource management is based on studies connected with groundwater hydrological regimen indicating an overall drawing possibility of about 190 x 106 m3 year, against a recharge volume of 880 x 106 m3 related to the six "wet months" embracing fall and winter. This model does not consider the role of the Pliocene and Pleistocene aquifers in draining a large portion of effective infiltration and pouring out resident water into the Cretaceous aquifer. A critical situation for the Cretaceous aquifer of Salento has to be stated. Increasing withdrawal induced a strong salinization of the water exploited from wells. Furthermore, several cases of shallow aquifer pollution have been identified. These aquifers are not considered strategic resources and, as a consequence, their management is missing. However, Pliocene and Pleistocene aquifers must be strongly safeguarded especially in presence of karst system, pollutant substances may reach the Cretaceous aquifer within few hours or days. Three study areas are dealt with. In the Torre dell'Orso coastal area, fresh water is a few meters below the surface and it was drawn since the Bronze Age. Differences in permeability in the local Upper Pliocene deposits create a multilayered aquifer system. A considerable volume of groundwater is discharged into the sea instead of supplying the deep aquifer. In the Burgesi area, karst systems and faulted zones drain waters from the Lower-Middle Pleistocene shallow aquifer into the deep ones strongly increasing groundwater vulnerability. In Contrada Triglio a marly unit act as permeability barrier at the base of the local aquifer which sourced the town of Taranto by means of a Roman-Medioeval aqueduct; this unconfined aquifer is particularly sensitive to climatic changes. Considering the role of shallow aquifers in recharging the deep ones, as well as the possibility of pollutants spreading, a detailed study of their hydrogeological properties is today necessary. This research provides new evidence of the importance of the sedimentological analysis for a better management of the Salento groundwaters.

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