Hydrogeological study for identification, characterisation and management of groundwater resources in the Sibillini Mountains National Park (central Italy)

Abstract

The research project discussed in this paper was focused on the Sibillini Mountains National Park. The project was expected to hydrogeologically characterise the carbonate aquifers supplying the springs of the Park’s perennial streams, by using quantitative hydrogeology methods.Analysis of data, directly collected in the field over many years of surveys, yielded quantitative information about local renewable groundwater resources, i.e. discharges from the dominantly linear springs and actual water availability (depending on water abstraction for different uses).The paper summarises the results of the project, giving a basic picture of the hydrogeology of the Park’s carbonate domain. For groundwater flowpaths, 19 Conceptual Hydrogeological Models were built. For each aquifer, the following elements were identified: recharge area; average discharge from springs, and Effective Infiltration of the individual hydrogeological structure. For each basin, the actual residual water availability was determined from the values of baseflow (net of current water abstraction for different uses) and of long-term average discharge under extreme minimum-flow conditions, so as to provide quantitative elements for granting new water leases and for controlling existing ones.