The survey of Italian springs by the National Hydrographic Service, a forgotten database. Structuring and analysis of a dataset of Campania springs (southern Italy)

Abstract

The analysis of groundwater resources is a particularly significant aspect of the economic, social and environmental development of the national territory. This is particularly relevant for the Campania region which, although characterized by the most significant aquifer systems of southern Italy, suffers from critical issues related to the progressive increase in demand and climatic variability at different time scales. In this framework, the lack of data concerning the survey of springs, including the minor ones, and of historical discharge measurements represents the main limitation to a more comprehensive regional hydrogeological characterization. The only source of historical data regarding the systematic and comprehensive survey of springs and discharge measurement is the Publication No. 14 of the National Hydrographic Service of the Ministry of Public Works “The Italian springs. List and description” reporting measures made between the 1920s and 1940s which was published in distinct volumes for each compartment. Despite its potential relevance, this source has so far been little used in regional hydrogeological studies. In this paper, a comparative analysis among data of springs derived from the Publication No. 14 and from measurement campaigns made by the Cassa per il Mezzogiorno (Special Project 26), between the 1960s and 1980s for main springs, was carried out for the Campania region. The information available from each source was validated through a cross-check, by means of a comparison of coordinates and a statistical analysis of the characterizing parameters. The new dataset allowed to expand the hydrogeological regional characterization with a higher number of springs, including the minor ones. The results obtained recognize the Publication No. 14 of the National Hydrographic Service as an important source of data to not be overlooked, especially in a condition of historical data shortage, by which can be both carried out regional hydrogeological and temporal analyses as well as identified integrative groundwater resources.

A comparison of RCMs and meteorological time series (1950–1996) of southern Italy as a fine calibration for hydrogeological scenarios

“…They are directly recharged by effective or secondary infiltration from watercourses, thus receiving lateral groundwater inflow from the adjoining karst aquifer systems. The lateral confinement of karst aquifers by low-permeability terrains constrains the groundwater circulation toward huge basal springs which are often characterized by high flows up to a few m 3 /s (Celico, 1983;Olarinoye et al, 2020;Cusano et al, 2022), and predisposed to the effective tapping. Therefore, karst aquifers represent the main source of groundwater for southern Italy, providing an estimated average annual water volume of approximately 4,100×10 6 m 3 • year -1 with a mean specific annual groundwater yield up to 0.035 m 3 • s -1 • km -2 (De Vita et al, 2018; Fig.…”

Analysis of the Recharge Area of the Perrot Spring (Aosta Valley) Using a Hydrochemical and Isotopic Approach

“…Mountain springs are one of the most strategic water resources in some parts of Italy [3][4][5]. In a typical high mountain environment, aquifers feed springs along the slopes [6].…”