Lake Water Quality for Human Use and Tourism in Central Italy (Rome)

Abstract

The lakes in the Italian region of Lazio, and in particular Lake Bracciano, have suffered due to reduced rainfall during the most recent years (1264.8 mm in 2014 vs 308.4 mm in 2015 and 883.6 mm in 2016 in Lake Bracciano). Moreover, Lake Bracciano exhibits both a direct water withdrawal (as drinkable water for the city of Rome and several other towns), and an indirect one, by the groundwaters, for agriculture. The 1.5 m water reduction, never observed in the last two decades, bared over 10 m of the littoral zone with the consequent exposition of gravel shores, trashes and reduction of the bottom areas involved in the denitrification process. This condition poses a threat to the ecosystem and to the human profits in term of eutrophication, healthy water loss, ship handling difficulties, touristic boats included, and tourism decline. In a previous investigation, we sampled the epilithic algae in the littoral zone of Lake Bracciano and estimated their nitrogen isotopic signature (δ 15 N). We highlighted the presence of diffuse organic and inorganic nitrogen inputs not intercepted by the wastewater collection system. These inputs, in synergy with water-level reduction, are able to undermine the ecosystem structure and health. In this paper, we show the nitrogen isotopic signatures, and their sources, as euros gained by parking meters for non-residents. We highlight the role of the touristic pressure not intercepted by the wastewater treatment plant in terms of δ 15 N increase during the most critical season (i.e. summer). The results show strong increases of euros gained and consequent δ 15 N signature increases (9‰ < δ 15 N < 17‰) from the end of June to the middle of August. We provide evidence supporting the need to adopt management policies to preserve the ecosystem services and related human health and earnings.

When Climate Change and Overexploitation Meet in Volcanic Lakes: The Lesson from Lake Bracciano, Rome’s Strategic Reservoir

“…This highlighted a seasonal dynamic of external N inputs that may be considered representative of several lakes in temperate regions. In 2017, the lake was affected by lower anthropogenic organic N pressure than in the period before the water level reduction [45], attributable to the observed decline in tourism [45,94]. Indeed, drought has both direct and indirect impact on the tourism and recreational sectors, negatively influencing the public perception of the ecological status of aquatic ecosystems [95,96].…”