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Hypersaline groundwater genesis assessment through a multidisciplinary approach: the case of Pozzo del Sale Spring (southern Italy)

Détermination de la genèse des eaux souterraines hypersalines au moyen d’une approche multidisciplinaire : le cas de Pozzo del Sale Spring (Italie méridionale)

Evaluación de la genesis de aguas subterráneas hipersalinas a través de una aproximación multidisciplinaria: el caso del manatial de Pozzo del Sale (sur de Italia)

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Abstract

A tool, based on a multidisciplinary field investigation approach for studying the characteristics of a hypersaline spring, was developed and its effectiveness tested on a spring in southern Italy; a preliminary model of the aquifer system at medium and local scale was derived. Hydrologic measurements, vertical electric soundings, and chemical and isotopic (δ18O, δ2H, 3H) analyses were undertaken, along with microbiological analyses and species identification. These demonstrate the coexistence of hypersaline and fresh water, generating a significant diversification of the groundwater hydrochemical signature. The isotopic signature shows that both types of water have a meteoric origin. Microbial contamination of fecal origin indicates the mixing of hyper- and low- saline water related to local infiltration. The hypersaline groundwater flows in confined horizons within a sequence that is mainly of fractured clays. These horizons are probably concentrated where well-developed fracture network and dissolution openings within evaporitic rocks enhance fluid flow. In a wider context, this study determines that microbiological pollution of saline groundwater may not be detected if using nonhalophilic bacterial indicators such as fecal coliforms. Fecal enterococci are better indicators, due to their higher halotolerance.

Résumé

Un outil, basé sur une approche de recherche de terrain multidisciplinaire pour étudier les caractéristiques d’une source hypersaline, a été développé et son efficacité testée sur une source en Italie méridionale; un modèle préliminaire du système aquifère à échelle moyenne et locale en a été dérivé. Des mesures hydrologiques, des sondages électriques verticaux, et des analyses chimiques et isotopiques (δ18O, δ2H, 3H) ont été réalisés, en même temps que des analyses microbiologiques et des identifications d’espèces. Celles-ci démontrent la coexistence d’eau hypersaline et d’eau douce, engendrant une diversité remarquable de la signature hydrochimique de l’eau souterraine. La signature isotopique montre que les deux types d’eau ont une origine météorique. Une contamination microbienne d’origine fécale révèle le mélange d’eau hypersaline et d’eau peu saline en relation avec une infiltration locale. L’eau souterraine hypersaline s’écoule dans des horizons captifs au sein d’une séquence qui se compose essentiellement d’argile fracturée. Ces horizons sont probablement concentrés là où un réseau de fractures bien développé et de cavités de dissolution au sein de roches évaporitiques accroît l’écoulement du fluide. Dans un contexte plus large, cette étude détermine que la pollution microbiologique d’une eau souterraine saline peut ne pas être détectée par l’utilisation d’indicateurs bactériens non halophiles, tels que les coliformes fécaux. Les entérocoques fécaux sont de meilleurs indicateurs, du fait de leur plus forte halotolérance.

Resumen

Con bases en una investigación de campo multidisciplinaria, se ha desarrollado una herramienta para estudiar las características de un manantial hipersalino, y su efectividad ha sido probada en un manantial del sur de Italia; se ha derivado un modelo del sistema acuífero a escalas intermedia y local. Se llevaron a cabo medidas hidrológicas, sondeos eléctricos verticales, mediciones químicas e isotópicas, además de análisis microbiológicos e identificación de especies (δ18O, δ2H, 3H). Se demostró la coexistencia de agua hipersalinas y agua dulce, lo que genera una muy significativa diversificación de la firma hidroquímica de las aguas subterráneas. Las determinaciones isotópicas indican que ambos tipos de aguas tienen origen meteórico. La contaminación bacteriana, de origen fecal, indica que la mezcla de aguas hipersalinas y de baja salinidad se relaciona con la infiltración local. El flujo subterráneo de agua hipersalina se produce en horizontes confinados dentro de una secuencia mayormente compuesta de arcillas fracturadas. Estos horizontes están probablemente concentrados donde la red de fracturas está bien desarrollada y los sectores con aperturas de disolución en rocas evaporíticas incrementan el flujo. En un contexto más amplio, este estudio determina que la polución microbiológica de las aguas salinas no se detecta con indicadores bacterianos no halofíticos, tales como coliformes fecales. Los enterococos fecales son mejores indicadores, debido a su mayor halotolerancia.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank three anonymous reviewers for detailed and helpful reviews, E. Petrella for her thoughtful comments and C.G. Pacifico and S. Aquino for supporting the research. This project was funded by the Provincia di Avellino.

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  1. Università degli Studi del Molise, Groundwater Research Center, Contrada Fonte Lappone, 86090, Pesche, IS, Italy

    Fulvio Celico, Vincenzo De Felice & Gino Naclerio

  2. Dipartimento di Matematica ed Informatica, Università degli Studi di Salerno, Via Ponte don Melillo, 84084, Fisciano, SA, Italy

    Paolo Capuano

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  1. Fulvio Celico
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Correspondence to Fulvio Celico.

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Celico, F., Capuano, P., De Felice, V. et al. Hypersaline groundwater genesis assessment through a multidisciplinary approach: the case of Pozzo del Sale Spring (southern Italy). Hydrogeol J 16, 1441–1451 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-008-0305-2

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