Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Salt water intrusion in the coastal aquifer of the southern Po Plain, Italy

Intrusion d’eau salée dans un aquifère côtier de la plaine du Pô méridionale, Italie

Intrusión salina en el acuífero costero del sur de la Planicie del Po, Italia

Intrusão de água salina no aquífero costeiro do sul da Planície do Pó, Itália

  • Report
  • Published:
Hydrogeology Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Saltwater has invaded the coastal aquifer along the southern Adriatic coast of the Po Plain in Italy. The topography, morphology and land use of the region is complex: rivers, canals, wetlands, lagoons, urban, industrial and agricultural areas and tourist establishments all coexist in a small area. Water table and iso-salinity maps show that in four study areas (Ancona-Bellocchio, Marina Romea, San Vitale Forest, Cervia) out of five, the water tables are below sea level and saltwater has replaced freshwater in the aquifer. The fifth area (Classe Forest) has a relatively pristine freshwater aquifer thanks to an average water-table height of 2 m above sea level, a lower hydraulic conductivity (< 7.7 m/day) and a continuous dune system along the coast. Only in this area is the topography high enough to maintain freshwater heads that can counteract saltwater intrusion according to the Ghyben-Herzberg principle. Furthermore, the climate, with an average yearly precipitation of 606 mm and an average temperature of 14.4°C, allows for little recharge of the aquifer. Ongoing subsidence, encroachment of sea water along rivers and canals, as well as drainage from agricultural land also enhance the salinization process.

Résumé

L’eau salée a envahi l’aquifère côtier le long de la côte Adriatique méridionale de la Plaine du Pô en Italie. La topographie, la morphologie et l’occupation du sol de la région est complexe: rivières, canaux, lagunes, régions urbaines, industrielles et d’agriculture et les installations touristiques coexistent toutes dans une petite région. Les cartes de la surface piézométrique et de la salinité montrent que dans quatre régions d’étude (Vene Ancona-Bellochio, Marina Romea, San Vitale Forest, Cervia) sur cinq, les surfaces piézométriques sont en dessous du niveau de la mer et l’eau salée a remplacé l’eau douce dans l’aquifère. La cinquième région (Classe Forest) a un aquifère d’eau douce relativement vierge grâce à une hauteur de surface piézométrique de 2 m au- dessus du niveau de la mer, une conductivité hydraulique inférieure (< 7.7 m/d) et un système dunaire continu le long de la côte. Dans cette région seulement la topographie est suffisamment élevée pour maintenir des pressions d’eau douce qui peuvent contrecarrer l’intrusion d’eau salée selon le principe de Ghyben-Herzberg. De plus, le climat, avec une quantité de pluie annuelle moyenne de 606 mm et une température moyenne de 14.4°C, ne permet qu’une faible recharge de l’aquifère. Une subsidence en cours, une pénétration de l’eau de mer le long des rivières et des canaux, de même que le drainage des terres agricoles augmentent aussi le processus de salinisation.

Resumen

El agua de mar ha invadido el acuífero costero a lo largo de la costa sur del Mar Adriático de la Planicie del Po en Italia. La topografía, morfología y los usos del territorio en la región son complejos: ríos, canales, humedales, lagunas, áreas industriales, agrícolas y turísticas coexisten en un área pequeña. Los mapas de niveles del acuífero y de isosalinidad en cuatro de las cinco áreas estudiadas (Vene Ancona-Bellocchio, Marina Romea, Bosque San Vitale, Cervia) indican que los niveles en el acuífero están por debajo del nivel del mar y que el agua marina ha reemplazado al agua dulce en los acuíferos. El área restante (Bosque Classe) posee un acuífero con agua dulce relativamente original debido a que, en promedio, su nivel de agua está a 2 m por encima del nivel del mar, a su baja conductividad hidráulica (< 7.7 m/d) y a la existencia de un sistema continuo de dunas a lo largo de la costa. Sólo en esta zona la topografía es lo suficientemente elevada como para mantener niveles de agua dulce que neutralizan la intrusión salina, de acuerdo con el principio de Ghyben-Herzberg. Además, el clima, con una precipitación media anual de 606 mm y una temperatura promedio de 14.4°C, permite una pequeña recarga del acuífero. La subsidencia en curso, el ingreso de agua de mar a lo largo de ríos y canales y el drenaje de áreas agrícolas también incrementan el proceso de salinización.

Resumo

A água salgada tem invadido o aquífero costeiro, ao longo do sul da costa Adriática na planície do Pó, em Itália. A topografia, a morfologia e o uso do solo da região é complexa: rios, canais, zonas húmidas, lagoas, zonas urbanas, industriais e agrícolas e empreendimentos turísticos coexistem numa pequena área. Mapas piezométricos e de iso-salinidade mostram que, em quatro áreas de estudo (Vene Ancona-Bellocchio, Marina Romea, San Vitale Forest, Cervia) de um total de cinco, os níveis freáticos estão abaixo do nível do mar e a água salina tem vindo a substituir a água doce no aquífero. A quinta área (Classe Florest) tem um aquífero de água doce relativamente intacto, graças a uma altura média de água 2 m acima do nível do mar, a uma baixa condutividade hidráulica (<7.7 m/d) e a um sistema dunar contínuo ao longo da costa. Apenas nesta área a topografia é suficientemente alta para manter os potenciais da água doce, permitindo contrariar a intrusão salina, de acordo com o princípio de Ghyben-Herzberg. Além disso, o clima, com uma precipitação média anual de 606 mm e uma temperatura média de 14.4°C, contribui para uma pequena recarga do aquífero. A subsidência em curso, a invasão da água do mar ao longo dos rios e canais, bem como a drenagem de terrenos agrícolas contribuem, também, para aumentar o processo de salinização.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allen RG, Pereira LS, Raes D, Smith M (1998) Crop evapotranspiration. Guidelines for computing crop water requirements, FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56, FAO, Rome

  • Amorosi A, Centineo MC, Dinelli E, Lucchini F, Tateo F (2002) Geochemical and mineralogical variations as indicators of provenance changes in Late Quaternary deposits of SE Po Plain. Sedimentology 151:273–292

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson WP Jr, Evans DG, Snyder SW (2000) The effects of Holocene barrier-island evolution on water-table elevation: Hatteras Island North Carolina, USA. Hydrogeol J 8:390–404

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Antonellini M, Aydin A (1994) Effect of faulting on fluid flow in porous sandstones: petrophysical properties. Am Assoc Petrol Geol Bull 78:355–377

    Google Scholar 

  • Antonellini M, Minchio A, Gabbianelli G (2007) L’intrusione salina negli acquiferi costieri Emiliano-Romagnoli [Saltwater intrusion in the Emilia-Romagna Region]. In: Ferrucci EM (ed) Pianificazione e tutela del territorio costiero [Planning and management of coastal zones]. Maggioli, Rimini, Italy, pp 105–118

    Google Scholar 

  • APAT, Agenzia Ambientale della Regione Emilia-Romagna (Environmental Agency of the Emilia-Romagna Region) (2002) http://www.arpa.emr.it/ingamb/difesa_costa.htm# Proposed plan against beach erosion and environmental restoration of the Emilia-Romagna coast. Cited January 2007

  • ARPA (2002) http://www.arpa.emr.it/ingamb/difesa_costa.htm#. Cited January 2007

  • ARPA (2005) Environmental Emilia-Romagna data yearbook. ARPA, Emilia-Romagna, Italy

  • Badon Ghijben W (1888) Nota in verband met de voorgenomen putboring nabij Amsterdam [Notes on the probable results of a well drilling near Amsterdam]. Tijdschrift Koninklijk Instit Ing 1988/1989:8–22

  • Barrocu G (2003) Seawater intrusion in the coastal aquifers of Italy. In: Calaferra J (ed) State of seawater intrusion in coastal aquifers of the Mediterranean Coast. SWIM-SWICA, Alicante, Spain

  • Barrocu G, Muscas L, Sciabica MG (2001) GIS and modeling for studying saltwater intrusion in the Capoterra Alluvial plain (Sardinia, Italy). Proc. SWICA-M3, Essaouira, Morocco, April 2001

  • Bau’ D, Gambolati G, Teatini P (2000) Residual land settlement near abandoned gas fields raises concern over Northern Adriatic coastland. EOS Trans Am Geophys Union 81:245–249

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bondesan M, Favero V, Vignals MJ (1995a) New evidence on the evolution of the Po-delta coastal plain during the Holocene. Quat Int 29/30:105–110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bondesan M, Castiglioni GB, Elmi C, Gabbianelli G, Marocco R, Pirazzoli PA, Tomasin A (1995b) Coastal areas at risk from storm surges and sea level rise in north-eastern Italy. J Coast Res 11:1354–1379

    Google Scholar 

  • Bouwer H (1989) The Bouwer and Rice slug test: an update. Ground Water 27:304–309

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bouwer H, Rice RC (1976) A slug test method for determining hydraulic conductivity of unconfined aquifers with completely or partially penetrating wells. Water Resour Res 12:423–428

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Capaccioni B, Didero M, Paletta C, Didero L (2005) Saline intrusion and refreshening in a multilayer coastal aquifer in the Catania Plain (Sicily, southern Italy): dynamics of degradation processes according to the hydrochemical characteristics of groundwater. J Hydrol 307:1–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carbognin L, Tosi L (1995) Analysis of actual land subsidence in Venice and its hinterland (Italy). In: Land subsidence. Balkema, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, pp 129–137

    Google Scholar 

  • Carminati E, Dogliosi C, Scrocca D (2005) Magnitude and causes of natural subsidence of Venice. In: Fletcher C, Spencer T (eds) Flooding and environmental challenges for Venice and its lagoon. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 21–28

  • Cau P, Lecca G, Muscas, Barrocu G, Uras G (2002) Saltwater intrusion in the plain of Oristano (Sardinia), 17th Salt Water Intrusion Meeting, Delft, The Netherlands, 6–10 May 2002, pp 435–444

  • Collins WH, Easley DH (1999) Freshwater Lens Formation in an unconfined barrier island aquifer. J Am Water Resour Assoc 35:1–2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • CTR (1978) Carta tecnica regionale Emilia Romagna [Technical topography map of the Emilia-Romagna Region]. Scale 1:10000. CTR, Bologna, Italy

    Google Scholar 

  • Dake LP (1978) Fundamentals of reservoir engineering. Elsevier, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Davis RA (1994) Geology of Holocene barrier island systems. Springer, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis RA (1997) The evolving coast. Scientific American Library, New York

  • De Luca A, Preziosi E, Giuliano G, Mastroianni D, Falconi F (2005) First evaluation of the saltwater intrusion in the Tiber delta area (Rome, central Italy). 18th Salt Water Intrusion Meeting, Cartagena, Spain, 31 May–3 June 2004, 34 pp

  • De Nardo MT (2002) Emilia-Romagna drainage basins map (in Italian). Emilia-Romagna Geological Service, Bologna, Italy

  • Di Dio G, Molinari FC, Duroni G, Sangallo AM, Zecchi A (1998) A study of the groundwater resources in the Ferrara province (Po river basin, northern Italy) (in Italian). Emilia-Romagna Cartography Office, SELCA, Florence, Italy

  • Diersch HJG, Kolditz O (2002) Variable-density flow and transport in porous media: approaches and challenges. Adv Water Resour 25:899–944

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Emilia-Romagna Geological Service (2002) Geological Map of Emilia-Romagna Scale 1:50000 (in Italian), Ravenna Map 223, Emilia-Romagna Geological Service, Bologna, Italy

  • Euro METEO (2005) http://www.eurometeo.com Weather data. Cited January 2005

  • FAO (2006a) State of world aquaculture. FAO Fisheries Depart., FAO, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO (2006b) www.fao.org/ag/magazine/0603sp1.htm Spotlight 2006: What’s water worth? FAO, Rome, Cited 06 April 2006

  • Ferrara Province Technical Office (2003) Field monitoring survey of saltwater encroachment along the Goro Po and the Volano Po (in Italian). SELCA, Florence, Italy

  • Fetter CW (1972) Position of the saline water interface beneath oceanic islands. Water Resour Res 8:1307–1315

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fetter CW (2001) Applied hydrogeology, 4th edn. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, USA

  • Giambastiani BMS, Antonellini M, Oude Essink GP, Stuurman RJ (2007) Saltwater intrusion in the unconfined coastal aquifer of Ravenna (Italy): a numerical model. J Hydrol 340:91–104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harris WH (1967) Stratification of fresh and saltwater on barrier islands as a result of differences in sediment permeability. Water Resour Res 3:89–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hermans L, Renault D, Emerton L, Perrot-Maitre D, Nguyen-Khoa S, Smith L (2006) Stakeholder oriented valuation to support water resources management processes. Water reports, FAO, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Herzberg A (1901) Die Wasserversorgung einiger Nordseebaeder [The water supply of selected North Sea towns]. Z F Gasbeleucht Wasserversorg 44:815–844

  • Hubbert MK (1940) The theory of ground-water motion. J Geol 48:785–944

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IDROSER (1978) Hydrogeology of the Emilia-Romagna Region, in Plan for the optimization of Emilia-Romagna water resources, vol.VII, sez.1 (in Italian). Regione Emilia-Romagna, Bologna, Italy

  • Jacob CE (1950) Flow of groundwater. In: Rouse H (ed) Engineering hydraulics. Wiley, New York, pp 321–386

    Google Scholar 

  • LocClim (2002) Local climate estimator. A computer application developed by Juergen Grieser based on FAOCLIM ver. 2 database of the Agrometeorology Group, FAO Environment and Natural Resources Service SDRN. SDRN Working Paper Series Publ. no. 9, FAO, Rome

  • Lopez-Geta JA, De Dios Gomez J, De la Orden JA, Ramos G, Rodriguez L (2003) Tecnologia de la intrusion de agua de mar en acuiferos costeros: paises Mediterraneos [Coastal aquifers intrusion technology: Mediterranean countries]. Instit. Geol. Minero. Espana, Madrid

  • Mollema P, Giambastiani B, Ulazzi E, Gabbianelli G (2005) The influence of climate changes on the water budget in the Regional Park of the Po River Delta. In: Gabbianelli G Sangiorgi F (eds) Climatic change and foreseeable impacts on deltas: a new challenge for the conservation of protected areas, vol 4. Proceedings of the Sixth International Conference on the Mediterranean coastal environment, MEDCOAST 03, Ravenna, Italy, October 2003, pp 69–79

  • Nielsen P (1990) Tidal dynamics of the water table in beaches. Water Resour Res 26:2127–2134

    Google Scholar 

  • Post VEA (2005) Fresh and saline groundwater interaction in coastal aquifers: Is our technology ready for the problems ahead? Hydrogeol J 13:120–123

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pranzini G (2002) Groundwater salinization in Versilia (Italy). 17th Salt Water Intrusion Meeting, Delft, The Netherlands, 6–10 May 2002, pp 412–421

  • Prasad A, Simmons CT (2005) On the use of quantitative indicators for benchmarking variable density groundwater flow. Hydrogeol J 13:905–914

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Regione Emilia-Romagna (2005) Piano di Tutela delle Acque Relazione Generale Arpa-Ingegneria Ambientale, Regione Emilia-Romagna Assessorato Ambientale e Sviluppo Sostenibile [Water protection Plan]. http://www.ermesambiente.it/PianoTutelaAcque/ . Cited 06 March 2008

  • Sabia M, Antonellini M, Gabbianelli G, Giambastiani B, Lapenna V, Perrone A, Rizzo E (2005) Indagini geoelettriche per lo studio di strutture idrogeologiche nella Pineta di San Vitale (RA) [Geo-resistivity investigations for the characterization of hydrogeologic structures in the San Vitale Pine Forest (RA)]. Acta National Geophysical Meeting Solid Earth, Rome, 15–17 November, pp 357–360

  • Scheidleger A, Grath J, Lindinger H (2004) Saltwater intrusion due to groundwater over-exploitation EEA inventory throughout Europe. In: 18th Saltwater Intrusion Meeting, Cartagena, Spain, 31 May–3 June 2004, 125 pp

  • Schneider JC, Kruse SE (2005) Assessing selected natural and anthropogenic impacts on freshwater lens morphology on small barrier Islands: Dog Island and St. George Island, Florida, USA. Hydrogeol J 14:131–145

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simmons DL (1986) Geohydrology and ground-water quality on Shelter Island, Suffolk County, New York, 1983–84. US Geol Surv Water Resour Invest Rep 85–4165

  • Simmons CT (2005) Variable density flow: from current challenges to future possibilities. Hydrogeol J 13:116–119

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Souza WR, Voss CI (1987) Analysis of an anisotropic coastal aquifer system using variable-density flow and solute transport simulation. J Hydrogeol 92:17–41

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Starr M (1999) WATBAL: a model for estimating monthly water balance components, including soil water fluxes. In: Kleemola S Forsius, M (eds) 8th Annual Report 1999 UN ECE ICP integrated monitoring. The Finnish Environment 325, Finnish Environment Institute, Helsinki, pp 31–35. http://www.metla.fi/hanke/3098/ewat_bal.htm. Cited 06 April 2006

  • Teatini P, Ferronato M, Gambolati G, Gonella M (2006) Groundwater pumping and land subsidence in the Emilia-Romagna coastland, Italy: modeling the past occurrence and the future trend. Water Resour Res 42:1–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Todd DK (1953) Sea water intrusion in coastal aquifers. Am Geophys Union Trans 34:749–754

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner K, Georgiou S, Clark R, Brouwer R (2004) Economic evaluation of water resources in agriculture. Food and Agricultural Organization Water reports, FAO, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Ulazzi E, Antonellini A, Gabbianelli G (2007) Coastal freatic aquifer characterization of the Cervia Area. In: Vallone R (ed) Stratigraphy and sedimentology of aquifers, APAT, Parma, Italy

  • UNESCO (1983) Algorithms for computation of fundamental properties of seawater. UNESCO Technical Papers. In: Fotonoff NP, Millard RC Jr (eds) Marine science. UNESCO, Washington, DC

  • UNEP (2007) Climate change 2007: the physical science basis. Summary for policymakers. UNEP, Geneva

  • Vacher HL (1988) Dupuit-Ghyben-Herzberg analysis of strip-island lenses. Geol Soc Am Bull 100:580–591

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Voss CI, Souza WR (1987) Variable density flow and solute transport simulation of regional aquifers containing a narrow freshwater–saltwater transition zone. Water Resour Res 23:1851–1866

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the very helpful comments of two anonymous reviewers, as well as T. Olsthoorn, P. Renard, and S. Duncan. We also thank the administrative authorities of the City of Ravenna (Italy) for financial support. The Emilia-Romagna Region, the Land Reclamation Organization, the Water Management Organization of the South Eastern Po Plain Rivers, and the Regional Po Delta Park all provided data that have been used in this study. M. Altizio was of great help during fieldwork and the editing of A. Sinel greatly improved the English of this manuscript. Funding was provided by a grant of the University of Bologna on national strategic projects.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CIRSA Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Via San Alberto, 163, 48100, Ravenna, Italy

    M. Antonellini, P. Mollema, B. Giambastiani, K. Bishop, L. Caruso, A. Minchio, L. Pellegrini, M. Sabia, E. Ulazzi & G. Gabbianelli

Authors
  1. M. Antonellini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. P. Mollema
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. B. Giambastiani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. K. Bishop
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. L. Caruso
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. A. Minchio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. L. Pellegrini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. M. Sabia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. E. Ulazzi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. G. Gabbianelli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Antonellini.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Antonellini, M., Mollema, P., Giambastiani, B. et al. Salt water intrusion in the coastal aquifer of the southern Po Plain, Italy. Hydrogeol J 16, 1541–1556 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-008-0319-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-008-0319-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation