M. Polemio; P.P. Limoni; D. Mitolo; R. Virga, 2006, Il degrado qualitativo delle acque sotterranee pugliesi, Giornale di geologia applicata 3 (2006): 25–31. doi_10.1474/GGA.2006-03.0-03.0096,
URL: http://www.cnr.it/prodotto/i/66893

The Apulian region is characterized by very low availability of surface water resources due to its karstic nature. Considerable groundwater resources are located in large and deep carbonate coastal aquifers. Groundwater is affected by two types of degradation risks_ quality and quantity degradation. The withdrawn of groundwater resources produce a massive degradation, along the coastal aquifers, for increasing salt contamination due to sea water intrusion. At the same time, various anthropogenic polluting sources have contributed to the qualitative degradation of the resource, also in the inner areas. To the aim to evidence the evolution in action of the groundwater resources quality degradation risks, are discussed data that it have been collected from numerous surveys that have interested coastal spring and wells in the entire region. In particular, the cognitive state is reported to the systematic surveying carried out from 1995 to 2003. In such survey the piezometric levels, the specific electrical conductivity, the pH, the Eh and the concentrations of main ions together with nitrogenous species have been determined for more than 100 wells. In adding, has been analyzed the waters of some coastal spring, selected between the more important of region, because the quality of coastal spring assumes great importance for the remarkable effects hydrological and ecological equilibriums of coastal and lakes environments. The enforced Italian law (D.L. 152/1999 e D.L. 258/2000) has been used as a comparative reference, defining a synthetic picture of the qualitative state of groundwater of the Apulia Region. It is found that the pollution of groundwater is absent in narrow inner areas, placed in the recharge areas of the aquifers. From such areas the groundwater flows towards the sea, along the way acquiring a polluting load coming from ground surface. Such pollutants are discharged into the sea or into lagoons, creating ecological risks also for coastal areas of particular interest.

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