The hydrogeological map of the etna volcanic massif as useful tool for groundwater resources management

Abstract

Several years of researches in the volcanic area of the Mount Etna consisting in the periodic verifications of the piezometric levels, the wells and springs yield and quality of water, clearly indicate the progressive quantitative and qualitative deterioration of the water resources of the volcanic aquifer. The absence of a rational management system of the water favoured that meaningful changed its quality. Forecasting the drinkable water demand increment described conditions draw a scenario of imminent risk to dispose in future of the resources necessary in order to satisfy the population necessities. The water resources of the Etna’s area supply an extended densely populated territory of the Sicily. The aquifer system of the volcanic massif knowledge allow to estimate the real availabilities of exploitable resources and their suitable exploitation without inducing modifications in the hydrodynamic regimen and the hydro chemical characteristics of the water bodies. The knowledge acquired in several years of research have been collected in the “Hydrogeological map of the Etna’s volcanic massif”, which constitutes a useful support for a rational management of the available resources and a suitable protection from further degradation risk.