Bacterial migration through low-permeability fault zones in compartmentalised aquifer systems: a case study in Southern Italy

Bucci, Antonio; Petrella, Emma; Naclerio, Gino; Gambatese, Sabrina; Celico, Fulvio

doi:10.5038/1827-806x.43.3.4

Cited by 18 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…On the contrary, taking into account the increase of the hydraulic gradient from 0.02% (far from the fault zones) to 1.9-4.2% (close to the fault zones) along the south-western edge of the test site, it seems that a lower-permeability fault core is associated to the local fault zones, which partially impedes fluid flow, causing the gradient to locally rise. This relationship between hydraulic gradient increase and lower-permeability fault core is in agreement with the results of experimental studies carried out in other carbonate aquifers, fissured and karstified, where the groundwater flow lines are approximately orthogonal to the direction of the fault core [36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43].…”

Section: Groundwater Flow Pathway and Regimesupporting

confidence: 90%

Integrating Hydrogeological and Microbiological Data and Modelling to Characterize the Hydraulic Features and Behaviour of Coastal Carbonate Aquifers: A Case in Western Cuba

Hernández-Díaz

Petrella

Bucci

et al. 2019

Water

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Carbonate aquifers are the primary source of freshwater in Cuba. Unfortunately, coastal groundwater is often contaminated by seawater intrusion. The main aim of the present study was to test the efficacy of an experimental modelling approach, ranging from hydrogeology/geomorphology to microbiology, to better characterise both the hydraulic features and behaviour of a coastal carbonate aquifer and acquire useful information to prevent groundwater salinization. The interdisciplinary approach was an effective tool in order to understand (i) the hydraulic role played by some fault zones; (ii) the influence of discontinuous heterogeneities on groundwater flow and saltwater wedge shape; (iii) mixing processes between different water bodies (groundwater, surface water, seawater); (iv) the role of karst conduits in influencing the step-like halocline within the mixing zone between fresh groundwater and seawater.

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Section: Groundwater Flow Pathway and Regimesupporting

confidence: 90%

Integrating Hydrogeological and Microbiological Data and Modelling to Characterize the Hydraulic Features and Behaviour of Coastal Carbonate Aquifers: A Case in Western Cuba

Hernández-Díaz

Petrella

Bucci

et al. 2019

Water

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“…Microbial communities are influenced by the physicochemical features of the environment in which they live and are excellent investigative tools in several hydrogeological scenarios. The efficacy of using microorganisms for specific hydrogeological purposes has been verified in several settings that are partially comparable with that addressed in this study, such as karstified media (e.g., [30,31]), low-permeability media (e.g., [32,33]), and high-salinity groundwaters (e.g., [34]).…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 73%

Hydrogeological Behaviour and Geochemical Features of Waters in Evaporite-Bearing Low-Permeability Successions: A Case Study in Southern Sicily, Italy

et al. 2020

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Knowledge about the hydrogeological behaviour of heterogeneous low-permeability media is an important tool when designing anthropogenic works (e.g., landfills) that could potentially have negative impacts on the environment and on people’s health. The knowledge about the biogeochemical processes in these media could prevent “false positives” when studying groundwater quality and possible contamination caused by anthropogenic activities. In this research, we firstly refined knowledge about the groundwater flow field at a representative site where the groundwater flows within an evaporite-bearing low-permeability succession. Hydraulic measurements and tritium analyses demonstrated the coexistence of relatively brief to very prolonged groundwater pathways. The groundwater is recharged by local precipitation, as demonstrated by stable isotopes investigations. However, relatively deep groundwater is clearly linked to very high tritium content rainwater precipitated during the 1950s and 1960s. The deuterium content of some groundwater samples showed unusual values, explained by the interactions between the groundwater and certain gases (H2S and CH4), the presences of which are linked to sulfate-reducing bacteria and methanogenic archaea detected within the saturated medium through biomolecular investigations in the shallow organic reach clayey deposits. In a wider, methodological context, the present study demonstrates that interdisciplinary approaches provide better knowledge about the behaviour of heterogeneous low-permeability media and the meaning of each data type.

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“…These results are also consistent with the findings of Bucci et al . (), who demonstrated that fault zones are characterized by heterogeneous sealing that enables not only solute transport but also bacterial cell migration.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of low‐permeability fault zones on groundwater flow in a compartmentalized system. Experimental evidence from a carbonate aquifer (Southern Italy)

Petrella

Aquino

Fiorillo

et al. 2014

Hydrological Processes

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The hydrogeological behaviour of fault zones in carbonate aquifers is often neglected in conceptual and numerical models. Furthermore, no information is available regarding the relationships between piezometric levels when significant compartmentalization occurs due to the occurrence of low‐flow fault zones. The aim of this study was to refine the conceptualization of subsurface flow in faulted carbonate aquifers and to analyse relationships between sub‐basins within a compartmentalized aquifer system in Southern Italy. The interactions between compartments that straddle low‐flow faults were investigated over four hydrologic years using a statistical approach to compare (i) the hydraulic heads within two wells located up‐ and down‐gradient of tectonic discontinuities as well as (ii) the rainfall and piezometric levels. The results of this study suggest that a set of barriers exists between the wells, and, therefore, the total head loss observed between the wells (approximately 80 m) should be distributed across several aquitards, with one aquitard exhibiting a relatively high permeability or low degree of integrity. Due to slight differences in permeability, transient conditions in aquitards can occur over relatively short periods, which is in agreement with the results of the statistical data analysis. Consequently, rather than being caused by pure aquitards, aquifer system compartmentalization likely results from slight differences in the permeability between lower‐permeability fault zones and adjacent higher‐permeability protoliths. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Bacterial migration through low-permeability fault zones in compartmentalised aquifer systems: a case study in Southern Italy

Cited by 18 publications

References 55 publications

Integrating Hydrogeological and Microbiological Data and Modelling to Characterize the Hydraulic Features and Behaviour of Coastal Carbonate Aquifers: A Case in Western Cuba

Integrating Hydrogeological and Microbiological Data and Modelling to Characterize the Hydraulic Features and Behaviour of Coastal Carbonate Aquifers: A Case in Western Cuba

Hydrogeological Behaviour and Geochemical Features of Waters in Evaporite-Bearing Low-Permeability Successions: A Case Study in Southern Sicily, Italy

The effect of low‐permeability fault zones on groundwater flow in a compartmentalized system. Experimental evidence from a carbonate aquifer (Southern Italy)

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