Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Evidences of different salinization sources in the roman coastal aquifer (Central Italy)

  • Published:
Journal of Coastal Conservation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The coastal aquifer of Rome is hosted in the Tiber River Delta depositional sequence, in a densely populated area, which was reclaimed at the end of the 19th century. Moderate salinization processes characterize this aquifer. Hydrogeological and hydrochemical surveys were carried out in October 2012 and February 2013 in the southern sector of the Delta. Hydrogeological surveys updated knowledge of groundwater morphology and a detailed conceptual hydrogeological model of the coastal aquifer was realized. Hydrochemical analyses helped to identify the salinization spatial distribution and to specify the main groundwater types. The most salinized water was not detected close to the coastline, where seawater intrusion processes would be expected, but in the inner areas. Moreover, the salinization processes resulted to be slightly marked. Results so far suggest that the source of salinization may be related more to a combination of land use and historical development of the Tiber River Delta, rather than to seawater.

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
Fig. 14

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alcalá FJ, Custodio E (2008) Using the Cl/Br ratio as a tracer to identify the origin of salinity in aquifers in Spain and Portugal. J Hydrol 359:189–207

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • American Public Health Association (2005) Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, 21st edn. APHA, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Angelopoulos C, Nicolaou E (2002) Salt works and their impact on soil and groundwater. The case study of Angelohori and Kristos, Greece. Stud Univ Babes-Bolyai Geologia 48(2):3–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Antonellini M, Mollema P (2010) Impact of groundwater salinity on vegetation species richness in the coastal pine forests and wetlands of Ravenna, Italy. Ecol Eng 36:1201–1211. doi:10.1016/j.ecoleng.2009.12.007

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Antonellini M, Mollema P, Giambastiani B, Bishop K, Caruso L, Minchio A, Pellegrini L, Sabia M, Ulazzi E, Gabbianelli G (2008) Salt water intrusion in the coastal aquifer of the southern Po Plain, Italy. Hydrogeol J 16(8):1541–1556. doi:10.1007/s10040-008-0319-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Appelo CAJ, Postma D (1999) Ion exchange and sorption. In: Geochemistry, Groundwater and Pollution, 4th edn. A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, Netherlands, pp 142–198

    Google Scholar 

  • Arnoldus-Huyzendveld A, Paroli L (1995) Alcune considerazioni sullo sviluppo storico dell’ansa dell Tevere presso Ostia e sul porto-canale. Archeologia Laziale 12:383–392

    Google Scholar 

  • Arnous MO, El-Rayes AE, Green DR (2015) Hydrosalinity and environmental land degradation assessment of the East Nile Delta region, Egypt. J Coast Conserv 19:491–513. doi:10.1007/s11852-015-0402-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bakker TWM (1990) The geohydrology of coastal dunes. In: Th W, Bakker PDJ, Klijn JA (eds) Dunes of the European coasts, vol 18. Catena Supplement, Destedt-Cremlingen, pp 109–119

    Google Scholar 

  • Barker AP, Newton RJ, Bottrell SH, Tellam JH (1998) Processes affecting groundwater chemistry in a zone of saline intrusion into an urban sandstone aquifer. Appl Geochem 13(6):735–749. doi:10.1016/s0883-2927(98)00006-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bear J, Cheng AH-D, Sorek S, Ouzer D, Herrera I (1999) Geophysical investigations. In: Jacob Bear AHDCSSDO, Ismael H (eds) Seawater intrusion in coastal aquifers - concepts. Methods and Practises. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Nederlands, pp 9–50

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Bellotti P, Calderoni G, Carboni MG, Di Bella L, Tortora P, Valeri P, Zernitskaya V (2007) Late Quaternary landscape evolution of the Tiber River delta plain (Central Italy): new evidence from pollen data, biostratigraphy and 14C dating. Z Geomorphol 51(4):505–534. doi:10.1127/0372-8854/2007/0051-0505

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bellotti P, Calderoni G, Di Rita F, D’Orefice M, D’Amico C, Esu D, Magri D, Martinez MP, Tortora P, Valeri P (2011) The tiber river delta plain (central Italy): coastal evolution and implications for the ancient ostia roman settlement. The Holocene 21(7):1105–1116. doi:10.1177/0959683611400464

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berner EK, Berner RA (eds) (2012) The global water cycle, geochemistry and environment, 2nd edn. Princeton University Press, Woodstock, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Bersani P, Moretti D (2008) Historical evolution of the coastline near the Tiber River mouth. L’acqua 5:77–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Boni C, Bono P, Capelli C (1986) Hydrogeological scheme of central Italy. Mem Soc Geol It 35:991–1012

  • Bucci M, Grillini M (2001) Geological, geomorphological and hydrogeological studies in Castelporziano Presidential Estate (Rome - Italy). J Tech Environ Geol 4:21–32, ISSN 1722–0025

    Google Scholar 

  • Capelli G, Mazza R, Papiccio C (2007) Saline intrusion in the Tiber Delta. Geology, hydrology and hydrogeology of the coastal plain of the roman sector. Giornale di Geologa Applicata 5:13–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Capelli G, Mastrorillo L, Mazza R, Petitta M, Baldoni T, Banzato F, Cascone D, Di Salvo C, La Vigna F, Taviani S, Teoli P (2012) Carta Idrogeologica del Territorio della Regione Lazio. Scala 1:100.000 (4 sheets). Regione Lazio, S.EL.CA., Firenze http://www.idrogeologiaquantitativa.it/wordpress/?p=2022&lang=it

  • Carboni MG (1993) Contributo alla stratigrafia del Quaternario laziale. Il Quaternario 6:27–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Carreira PM, Marques JM, Pina A, Mota Gomes A, Galego Fernandes PA, Monteiro Santos F (2010) Groundwater assessment at Santiago Island (Cabo Verde): a multidisciplinary approach to a recurring source of water supply. Water Resour Manag 24:1139–1159. doi:10.1007/s11269-009-9489-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chapelle FH, McMahon PB (1991) Geochemistry of dissolved inorganic carbon in a coastal plain aquifer. 1: Sulfate from confining beds as an oxidant in microbial CO2 production. J Hydrol 127:85–109. doi:10.1016/0022-1694(91)90110-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng AH-D, Ouzar D (2004) Coastal aquifer management - monitoring, modeling, and case study. CRC Press

  • Chiocci FL, Normark WR (1992) Effect of sea-level variation on upper-slope depositional processes offshore of Tiber delta, Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy. Mar Geol 104(1–4):09–122. doi:10.1016/0025-3227(92)90087-X

    Google Scholar 

  • Cruz JV, Silva MO (2000) Groundwater salinization in Pico Island (Azores, Portugal): origin and mechanisms. Environ Geol 39(10):1181–1189. doi:10.1007/s002540000109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davis SN, Whittemore DO, Fabryka-Martin J (1998) Uses of chloride/bromide ratios in studies of potable water. Ground Water 36(2):338–350. doi:10.1111/j.1745-6584.1998.tb01099.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Di Bella L, Bellotti P, Milli S (2013) The role of foraminifera as indicators of the Late Pleistocenee Holocene palaeoclimatic fluctuations on the deltaic environment: the example of Tiber delta succession (Tyrrhenian margin, Italy). Quat Int 303:191–209. doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2013.04.015

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Florindo F, Karnerb DB, Marra F, Rennec PR, Roberts AP, Weavere R (2007) Radioisotopic age constraints for Glacial Terminations IX and VII from aggradational sections of the Tiber River delta in Rome, Italy. Earth Planet Sci Lett 256(1–2):61–80. doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2007.01.014

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freeze RA, Cherry JA (1979) Groundwater. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

    Google Scholar 

  • Funiciello R, Giordano G (2008) Note illustrative della Carta Geologica d’Italia 1:50000, Foglio 374 Roma http://www.isprambiente.gov.it/Media/carg/

  • Funiciello R, Giordano G, Mattei M (2008) Geological map of Roma municipality 1:50000. Firenze

  • Giambastiani BMS, Antonellini M, Essink GHPO, Stuurman RJ (2007) Saltwater intrusion in the unconfined coastal aquifer of Ravenna (Italy): a numerical model. J Hydrol 340(1–2):91–104. doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2007.04.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gimenez E, Morell I (1997) Hydrogeochemical analysis of salinization processes in the coastal aquifer of Oropesa (Castellon, Spain). Environ Geol 29(1–2):118–131. doi:10.1007/s002540050110

    Google Scholar 

  • Giraudi C, Tata C, Paroli L (2009) Late Holocene evolution of Tiber river delta and geoarchaeology of Claudius and Trajan Harbor, Rome. Geoarchaeology 24:371–382. doi:10.1002/gea.20270

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grassi S, Cortecci G (2005) Hydrogeology and geochemistry of the multilayered confined aquifer of the Pisa plain (Tuscany – central Italy). Appl Geochem 20:41–54. doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2004.06.005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ISPRA (2013) Istituto Superiore per la Prevenzione e Ricerca Ambientale, Archivio nazionale delle indagini nel sottosuolo (L.464/84) http://sgi.isprambiente.it/GMV2/index.html.

  • Italian Geological Survey (1963) Carta Geologica d’Italia 1:100000, Foglio 145 Cerveteri http://www.isprambiente.gov.it/it/cartografia/carte-geologiche-e-geotematiche/carta-geologica-alla-scala-1-a-100000

  • Italian Geological Survey (2008) Carta Geologica d’Italia 1:50.000, Foglio 374 Roma http://www.isprambiente.gov.it/Media/carg/

  • Italian Geological Survey (2009) Carta Geologica d’Italia 1:50.000, Foglio 387 Albano Laziale http://www.isprambiente.gov.it/Media/carg/

  • Jones MLM, Reynolds B, Brittain SA, Norris DA, Rhind PM, Jones RE (2006) Complex hydrological controls on wet dune slacks: the importance of local variability. Sci Total Environ 372:266–277. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2006.08.040

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim RH, Kim JH, Ryu JS, Chang HW (2006) Salinization properties of a shallow groundwater in a coastal reclaimed area, Yeonggwang, Korea. Environ Geol 49(8):1180–1194. doi:10.1007/s00254-005-0163-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • La Vigna F, Mazza R, Amanti M, Di Salvo C, Petitta M, Pizzino L, Pietrosante A, Martarelli L, Bonfà I, Capelli G, Cinti D, Ciotoli F, Ciotoli G, Conte G, Del Bon A, Dimasi M, Falcetti S, Gafà RM, Lacchini A, Mancini M, Martelli S, Mastrorillo L, Monti GM, Procesi M, Roma M, Sciarra A, Silvi A, Stigliano F, Succhiarelli C (2016) Groundwater of Rome. J Maps. doi:10.1080/17445647.2016.1158669

    Google Scholar 

  • Le Bas MJ, Le Maitre RW, Streckeisen A, Zanettin (1986) A chemical classification of volcanic rocks based on the total alkali - silica diagram. J Petrol 27:745–750. doi:10.1093/petrology/27.3.745

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manca F, Capelli G, La Vigna F, Mazza R, Pascarella A (2014a) Wind-induced salt-wedge intrusion in the Tiber river mouth (Rome–Central Italy). Environ Earth Sci 72:1083. doi:10.1007/s12665-013-3024-5

    Google Scholar 

  • Manca F, Capelli G, Tuccimei P (2014b) Sea salt aerosol groundwater salinization in the Litorale Romano Natural Reserve (Rome, Central Italy). Environ Earth Sci 73(8):4179–4190. doi:10.1007/s12665-014-3704-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mastrocicco M, Giambastiani BMS, Severi P, Colombani N (2012) The importance of data acquisition techniques in saltwater intrusion monitoring. Water Resour Manag 26(10):2851–2866. doi:10.1007/s11269-012-0052-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mastrorillo L, Petitta M (2009) The groundwater monitoring network of Castelporziano presidential estate (Rome). Eng Hydro Environ Geol 12:187–198. doi:10.1474/EHEGeology.2009-12.0-16.0273

    Google Scholar 

  • Mastrorillo L, Mazza R, Tuccimei P, Rosa C, Matteucci R (2016) Groundwater monitoring in the archaeological site of Ostia Antica (Rome, Italy): first results. Ital J Groundwater AS16-192:35–42. doi:10.7343/as-2016-192

    Google Scholar 

  • Mazza G, Amorini E, Cutini A, Manetti MC (2011) The influence of thinning on rainfall interception by Pinus pinea L. in Mediterranean coastal stands (Castel Fusano Rome). Ann For Sci 68:1323–1332. doi:10.1007/s13595-011-0142-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mensah KO, FitzGibbon J (2013) Responsiveness of Ada Sea Defence Project to salt water intrusion associated with sea level rise. J Coast Conserv 17:75–84. doi:10.1007/s11852-012-0219-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mercado A (1985) The use of hydrogeochemical patterns in carbonate sand and sandstone aquifers to identify intrusion and flushing of saline waters. Ground Water 23(5):635–645. doi:10.1111/j.1745-6584.1985.tb01512.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milli S, D’Ambrogi C, Bellotti P, Calderoni G, Carboni MG, Celant A, Di Bella L, Di Rita F, Frezza V, Magri D, Pichezzi RM, Ricci V (2013) The transition from wave-dominated estuary to wave-dominated delta: The Late Quaternary stratigraphic architecture of Tiber River deltaic succession (Italy). Sediment Geol 284:159–180. doi:10.1016/j.sedgeo.2012.12.003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pannuzi S (2013) La laguna di Ostia : produzione del sale e trasformazione delpaesaggio dall’età antica all’età moderna, in Mélanges de l’École française de Rome, Moyen Âge [Online], 125–2 | 2013 https://mefrm.revues.org/1507?lang=it

  • Rendell HM, Claridge AJ, Clarke ML (2007) Late Holocene Mediterranean coastal change along the Tiber Delta and Roman occupation of the Laurentine shore, central Italy. Quat Geochronol 2:83–88. doi:10.1016/j.quageo.2006.04.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stieglitz TC, Cook PG, Burnett WC (2010) Inferring coastal processes from regional-scale mapping of 222 Radon and salinity: examples from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. J Environ Radioact 101(7):544–552. doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2009.11.012

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sung-Wook J, Jun-Mo K, Kyung-Seok K, Byungwoo Y, Ho-Wan C (2001) Hydrogeochemical characteristics of groundwater in a mid-western coastal aquifer system, Korea. Geosci J 5(4):339–348. doi:10.1007/BF02912705

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tran LT, Larsen F, Pham NQ, Christiansen AV, Nghi T, Vu HV, Tran LV, Hoang HV, Hinsby K (2012) Origin and extent of fresh groundwater, salty paleowaters and recent saltwater intrusions in Red River flood plain aquifers, Vietnam. Hydrogeol J 20(7):1295–1313. doi:10.1007/s10040-012-0874-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tuccimei P, D’Angelantonio M, Manetti MC, Cutini A, Amorini E, Capelli G (2010) The chemistry of precipitation and groundwater in a coastal Pinus Pinea forest (Castel Fusano area, Central Italy) and its relation to stand and canopy structure. In: Szigethy BVaJ (ed) Horizons in Earth Science Research, vol 4. Nova Science Publishers, Inc., pp 1–17

  • Ventriglia U (1990) Circolazione delle acque sotterranee. In: Idrogeologia della Provincia di Roma, vol Regione vulcanica dei Colli Albani - 3. Amministrazione Provinciale di Roma, Assessorato Lavori Pubblici, Viabilità e Trasporti, Roma, pp 183–187

  • Vittori C, Mazzini I, Salomon F, Goiran JP, Simona Pannuzi S, Rosa C, Pellegrino A (2015) Palaeoenvironmental evolution of the ancient lagoon of Ostia Antica (Tiber delta, Italy). J Archaeol Sci 54:374–384. doi:10.1016/j.jas.2014.06.017

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • www.ostia-antica.org Web site created by Jan Theo Bakker, PhD. Leiden, The Netherlands. The Internet Group Ostia. The Soprintendenza at Ostia Antica. Copyright © 2001 Thomas G.Hines, Whitman College.

  • Xue P, Chen C, Ding P, Beardsley RC, Lin H, Ge J, Kong Y (2009) Saltwater intrusion into the Changjiang River: A model-guided mechanism study. J Geophys Res Oceans 114. doi:10.1029/2008jc004831

  • Yu J, Li Y, Han G, Zhou D, Fu Y, Guan B, Wang G, Ning K, Wu H, Wang J (2013) The spatial distribution characteristics of soilsalinity in coastal zone of the Yellow River Delta. Environ Earth Sci 72:589. doi:10.1007/s12665-013-2980-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zambon I, Sabbi A, Schuetze T, Salvati L (2015) Exploring forest ‘fringescapes’: urban growth, society and swimming pools as a sprawl landmark in coastal Rome. Rend Fis Acc Lincei 26:159–168. doi:10.1007/s12210-015-0377-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank B. Zaccaria and E. Ruta for the field surveys.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Science Department, Roma Tre University, Largo S. Leonardo Murialdo, 1, 00146, Rome, Italy

    Lucia Mastrorillo, Roberto Mazza & Paola Tuccimei

  2. Freelance Researcher - At the moment of survey: Science Department, Roma Tre University, Largo S. Leonardo Murialdo, 1, 00146, Rome, Italy

    Fabio Manca

Authors
  1. Lucia Mastrorillo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Roberto Mazza
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Fabio Manca
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Paola Tuccimei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lucia Mastrorillo.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Mastrorillo, L., Mazza, R., Manca, F. et al. Evidences of different salinization sources in the roman coastal aquifer (Central Italy). J Coast Conserv 20, 423–441 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-016-0457-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-016-0457-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation