Exploring the aquifers shaping Italy's sub-urban landscape

F. La Vigna; L. Alberti; S. Da Pelo; D. Ducci; P. Fabbri; A. Gargini; M. Lasagna; G. Pappalardo; M. Polemio; S. Rusi

doi:10.7343/as-2024-806

Authors

F. La Vigna
francesco.lavigna@isprambiente.it
Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) - Geological Survey of Italy, Via Vitaliano Brancati, 48, Roma, Italy. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2727-2017
L. Alberti Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza L. da Vinci, 32, Milano, Italy.
S. Da Pelo Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Cagliari, Campus of Monserrato, Building A, 09042 Monserrato, Italy.
D. Ducci Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Edile ed Ambientale, Università degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, Piazzale Tecchio, 80, Napoli, Italy.
P. Fabbri Università di Padova, Department of Geosciences, Via Gradenigo 6, Padova, Italy.
A. Gargini Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali (BiGeA), “Alma Mater Studiorum” Università di Bologna, Via Zamboni, 67, Bologna, Italy.
M. Lasagna Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Torino, via Valperga Caluso 35, Torino, Italy.
G. Pappalardo Università degli Studi di Catania, Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali, Corso Italia, 57, Catania, Italy.
M. Polemio CNR-IRPI, National Research Council, Research Institute for Hydrogeological Protection, Via Amendola, 122/I, Bari, Italy.
S. Rusi Dipartimento di Ingegneria e Geologia, Università “G. d’Annunzio”, Chieti-Pescara, Italy.

This review paper examines the hydrogeological characteristics and challenges of urban groundwater management in ten major Italian cities: Turin, Milano, Padova, Bologna, Roma, Pescara, Napoli, Bari, Catania, and Cagliari. Urbanization has placed significant pressure on groundwater systems, highlighting the need for sustainable management. The study categorizes the cities based on their hydrogeological settings and groundwater uses, identifying key issues such as salinization, industrial contamination, and land subsidence. The findings emphasize the importance of urban local aquifers (ULAs) for drinking water, industry, and ecological support, advocating for integrated urban water management and governance to enhance resilience against future water shortages and climate change impacts.

La Vigna, F., Alberti, L., Da Pelo, S., Ducci, D., Fabbri, P., Gargini, A., Lasagna, M., Pappalardo, G., Polemio, M., & Rusi, S. (2024). Exploring the aquifers shaping Italy’s sub-urban landscape . Acque Sotterranee - Italian Journal of Groundwater, 13(3). https://doi.org/10.7343/as-2024-806