Quantitative hydrogeological analysis of the carbonate domain of the Umbria Region (central Italy)

Abstract

This paper condenses the results of around 25 years of hydrogeological researches performed by CARLO BONI and the Hydrogeology Laboratory of the Earth Science Department of University of Rome "La Sapienza", on the Umbria-Marchean domain. Research methodology is based on quantitative hydrogeology, in which geologic and hydrogeological setting of the area has been compared with spring discharge, to identify hydrogeological systems representing their recharge area, by definition of the role of the boundaries and by quantification of the hydrological budget. Main improvements respect to the basic hydrogeological framework of the fractured-carbonate domain of the Umbria Region can be summarized as follow: i) elaboration of a conceptual model of groundwater circulation recognising both hydrogeological units and different aquifers; ii) computation of an up-to-date hydrological budget for each hydrogeological unit, integrated in a general regional view, where possible external contributions are justified and verified by corresponding groundwater losses from surrounding units; 3) evaluation of range of effective infiltration (net recharge), which has been found different for each hydrogeological complex, requiring specific calculation for each hydrogeological unit.