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The vulnerability of karst springs—a case study of the Hubelj spring (SW Slovenia)

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Environmental Geology

Abstract

The hydraulic behaviour of the karst aquifer in the Hubelj spring catchment area (SW Slovenia) was studied by using an indirect research method based on natural tracers. The variations of natural tracers (in precipitation and in groundwater) during the storm event made possible the separation of the Hubelj spring storm hydrograph by the three-component separation technique. The results produced information on the aquifer recharge, storage and discharge processes, as well as on the mechanisms that affected them. They verified the so-called epikarst hypothesis presuming that an important part of a karst aquifer recharge reaches rapidly and intensively from the epikarst zone. It was demonstrated that epikarst water could occupy up to 50% of the spring discharge during precipitation events. This phenomenon could have important consequences on protection and management of the problems of karst aquifers, including engineering problems in karst areas. With this respect the results could give way to new engineering ideas.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the Slovene Ministry of Education, Science and Sport for the financial support of these researches.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geological Survey of Slovenia, Dimičeva ul. 14, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    B. Trček

  2. Agency for Radwaste Management, Parmova 53, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    M. Veselič

  3. Department of Geology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology, Aškerčeva 12, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    J. Pezdič

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  1. B. Trček
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  2. M. Veselič
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  3. J. Pezdič
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Correspondence to B. Trček.

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Trček, B., Veselič, M. & Pezdič, J. The vulnerability of karst springs—a case study of the Hubelj spring (SW Slovenia). Environ Geol 49, 865–874 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-006-0182-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-006-0182-8

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