Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Submarine groundwater discharge into Venice Lagoon, Italy

  • Published:
Estuaries Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Venice Lagoon, Italy, rests on a series of aquifers that are 1,000 m thick. Measurements of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) were made in Venice Lagoon using benthic chambers vented to a plastic collection bag. Two hundred measurements taken in a pristine northern lagoon site (Isola la Cura) revealed flow rates as high as 200 cm d−1 with an average of 30 cm d−1. Over 100 measurements taken adjacent to a bulkhead shoreline in the Porto Marghera industrial zone (Fusina) showed flow rates as high as 30 cm d−1 and averaging 6 cm d−1. These flow rates, if representative of even a fraction of the lagoon floor, are easily able to account for the 15% deficit previously calculated between precipitation and runoff for the entire Venice Lagoon drainage basin. Land elevation surrounding the Venice Lagoon is < 10 m within 20 km of the shoreline and is unable to support any substantial onshore water table. Submarine groundwater discharge most likely represents upward artesian discharge from deeper partially confined aquifers. Over 60 samples were collected in total from both sites for nutrient analysis. Ammonium concentration was found to be 2–8 fold higher in the device water than in the lagoon water at the northern site depending on season, and 10–30 times higher at the industrial zone site. These numbers suggest that SGD may be the primary pathway for nutrients and perhaps other contaminants to enter Venice Lagoon.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  • Alberatonza, L., V. Favero, P. Gatto, M. Masutti, G. Mozzi, F. Pianetti, R. Serandrei, and R. Barbero. 1972. Catasto Pozzi del Comune di Venezia. CNR Technical Report. Vol. 1–2–3–4–5: 1) Centro storico e isole. 2) Litorali. 3) Marghera. 4) Terraferma. 5) Atlante.”—Gennaio, Italy.

  • Ataie-Ashtiani, B., R. E. Volker, andD. A. Lockington. 1999. Tidal effects on sea water intrusion in unconfined aquifers.Journal of Hydrology 216: 17–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Belluci, L. G., M. Frignani, D. Paolucci, andM. Ravanelli. 2002. Distribution of heavy metals in sediments of the Venice Lagoon: The role of the industrial area.The Science of the Total Environment 295: 35–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bokuniewicz, H. 1980. Groundwater seepage into Great South Bay, New York.Estuarine and Coastal Marine Science 10: 437–444.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bokuniewicz, H., R. Buddemeier, B. Maxwell, andC. Smith. 2003. The typological approach to submarine groundwater discharge (SGD).Biogeochemistry 66: 145–158.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bokuniewicz, H., andB. Pavlik. 1990. Groundwater seepage along a barrier island.Biogeochemistry 10: 257–276.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bokuniewicz, H. J. andM. Zeitlin. 1980. Characteristics of the ground-water seepage into Great South Bay. Special report (State University of New York at Stony Brook. Marine Sciences Research Center). Stony Brook, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bondesan, A. andM. Meneghel. 2004 Geomorfologia della provincia di Venezia. Provincia di Venezia. Provincia di Venezia, Venice, Italy.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burnett, W. C. andH. Dulaiova. 2003. Estimating the dynamics of groundwater input into the coastal zone via continuous radon-222 measurements.Journal of Environmental Radioactivity 691: 21–35.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Burnett, W. C., M. Taniguchi, andJ. Oberdorfer. 2001. Measurement and significance of the direct discharge of groundwater into the coastal zone.Journal of Sea Research 46: 109–116.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cable, J. E., W. C. Burnett, J. P. Chanton, D. R. Corbett, andP. H. Cable. 1997. Field evaluation of seepage meters in the coastal marine environment.Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science 45: 367–375.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Capone, D. C. andM. F. Bautista. 1985. A groundwater source of nitrate in nearshore marine sediments.Nature 313: 214–216.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carbognin, L., P. Gatto, andG. Mozzi. 1977. Guidebook to studies of land subsidence due to ground-water withdrawal.International Association of Hydrological Sciences-Association Internationales des Sciences Hydrologiques 121: 65–81.

    Google Scholar 

  • Charette, M. A., andK. O. Buesseler. 2004. Submarine groundwater discharge of nutrients and copper to an urban subestuary of Chesapeake Bay (Elizabeth River).Limnology and Oceanography 49: 376–385.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Charette, M. A., andE. R. Sholkovitz. 2002. Oxidative precipitation of groundwater-derived ferrous iron in the subterranean estuary of a coastal bay.Geophysical Research Letters 29: 1444–1447.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Frignani, M., L. G. Belluci, C. L. Carraro, andM. Favotto. 2001. Accumulation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in sediments of the Venice Lagoon and the industrial area of Porto Marghera.Marine Pollution Bulletin 42: 544–553.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Garcia-Solsona, E., P. Masqué, J. Rapaglia, H. Bokuniewicz, L. Zaggia, F. Collavini, J. K. Cochran, G. M. Zuppi, J. A. Sanchez-Cabeza, andA. Beck. 2004. Radium Isotopic Tracers of Submarine Groundwater Discharge into the Venice Lagoon. Abstract to October 2004 International Atomic Energy Agency Conference. International Atomic Energy Agency, Monte-Carlo, Monaco.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaswirth, S. B., G. M. Ashley, andR. E. Sheridan. 2002. Use of seismic stratigraphy to identify conduits for saltwater intrusion in the vicinity of Raritan Bay, New Jersey.Environmental Engineering Geoscience 3: 209–218.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guerzoni, S. andS. Raccanelli. 2004. The Sick Lagoon: Dioxin and Other Persistent Organic Pollutants in the Lagoon of Venice, 1st edition. Libreria Editrice Cafoscarina, Venice, Italy.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hancock, G. J., I. T. Webster, P. W. Ford, andW. S. Moore. 2000. Using Ra isotopes to examine transport processes controlling benthic fluxes into a shallow estuarine lagoon.Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 64: 3685–3699.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, G., K.-K. Lee, K.-S. Park, D.-W. Hwang, andH.-S. Yang. 2003. Large submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) from a volcanic island.Geophysical Research Letters 30: 2098.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • LaRoche, J., R. Nuzzi, R. Waters, K. Wyman, P. G. Falkowski, andD. W. R. Wallace. 1997. Brown tide blooms in Long Island's coastal waters linked to interannual variability in groundwater flow.Global Climate Change 3: 397–410.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, D. R. 1977. A device for measuring seepage flux in lakes and estuaries.Limnology and Oceanography 22: 140–147.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li, L., D. A. Barry, F. Stagnitti, andJ. Y. Parlange. 1999. Submarine groundwater discharge and associated chemical input to a coastal sea.Water Resources Research 35: 3253–3259.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Libelo, E. L. andW. G. Macintyre. 1994. Effects of surface-water movement on seepage-meter measurements of flow through the sediment water interface.Applied Hydrology 4: 49–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manning, D. A. C. andI. E. Hutcheon. 2004. Distribution and mineralogical controls on ammonium in groundwater.Applied Geochemistry 19: 1495–1503.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McBride, M. S. andH. O. Pfannkuch. 1975. Distribution of seepage within lakebeds.Journal of Research of the U.S. Geological Survey 3: 505–512.

    Google Scholar 

  • Montlucon, D. andS. A. Sanudo-Wilhelmy. 2001. Influence of net groundwater discharge on metal and nutrient concentrations in a coastal environment: Flanders Bay Long Island, New York.Environmental Science and Technology 35: 480–486.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moore, W. S. 1996. Large groundwater inputs to coastal waters revealed by radium-226 enrichments.Nature 380: 612–614.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mulligan, A. andE. Uchupi. 2003. New interpretation of glacial history of Cape Cod may have important implications for groundwater contamination.EOS, Transactions of the American Geophysical Union 84: 171–183.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nielsen, P. 1990. Tidal dynamics of the water table in beaches.Water Resources Research 26: 2127–2134.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pavoni, B., A. Marcomini, A. Sfriso, andA. A. Orio. 1988. Multivariate analysis of heavy metal concentrations in sediments of the lagoon of Venice.The Science of the Total Environment 77: 189–202.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shaw, R. D., J. F. H. Shaw, H. Fricker, andE. E. Prepas. 1990. An integrated approach to quantify groundwater transport of phosphorous to Narrow Lake, Alberta.Limnology and Oceanography 35: 870–886.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shinn, E. A., C. D. Reich, D. Christopher, andD. T. Hickey. 2002. Seepage meters and Bernoulli's revenge.Estuaries 25: 126–132.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Slomp, C. P. andP. V. Van Capellen. 2004. Nutrient inputs to the coastal ocean through submarine groundwater discharge: Controls and potential impact.Journal of Hydrology 295: 64–86.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taniguchi, M. andH. Iwakawa. 2004. Submarine groundwater discharge in Osaka Bay, Japan.Limnology 5: 25–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Umgiesser, G., D. M. Canu, A. Cucco, andC. Solidoro. 2004. A finite element model for the Venice Lagoon. Development, set up, calibration and validation.Journal of Marine Systems 51: 123–145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Dover, C. L., C. R. German, K. G. Speer, L. M. Parson, andR. C. Vrijenhoek. 2002. Marine biology evolution and biogeography of deep-sea vent and seep invertebrates.Science 295: 1253–1257.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Westbrook, S. J., J. L. Rayner, G. B. Davis, T. P. Clement, P. L. Bjerg, andS. J. Fisher. 2004. Interaction between shallow groundwater, saline surface water and contaminant discharge at a seasonally and tidally forced estuarine boundary.Journal of Hydrology 20: 1–5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zaggia, L., A. Zuliani, andR. Zonta. 2001. Analysis of rainfall data, p. 37–44.In Determinazione degli Apporti Inquinanti dal Bacino Scolante alla Laguna di Venezia, Arsenal di Venezia: 14–15 June, Volume 1, Magistrato alle Acque di Venezia and the Consorzio Venezia Nuova, Venice, Italy.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeitlin, M. J. 1980. Variability and Predictability of Submarine Groundwater Discharge into a Coastal Lagoon: Great South Bay, New York. Ph.D. Dissertation, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zille, A. 2000. Studio Geologico ed Idreologico Ambientale della Discarica Industriale Denominata “43 Ettari” Sita in Zona Malcontenta, Venezia. Ph.D. Dissertation, Universita ca Foscari di Venezia, Venice, Italy.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zonta, R. 2001. Venice Lagoon and drainage basin, p. 26–30.In Determinazione degli Apporti Inquinanti dal Bacino Scolante alla Laguna di Venezia, Arsenal di Venezia: 14–15 June, Volume 1, Magistrato alle Acque di Venezia and the Consorzio Venezia Nuova, Venice, Italy.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zonta, R., J. K. Cochran, F. Collavini, F. Costa, M. Scattolin, andL. Zaggia. 2005. Sediment and heavy metal accumulation in a small canal, Venice, Italy.Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management 8: 63–71.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zuliani, A., R. Zonta, L. Zaggia, andO. E. Fagarazzi. 2001. Fresh water transfer from the drainage basin to the lagoon, p. 31–36.In Determinazione degli Apporti Inquinanti dal Bacino Scolante alla Laguna di Venezia, Arsenal di Venezia: 14–15 June, Volume 1, Magistrato alle Acque di Venezia and the Consorzio Venezia Nuova, Venice, Italy.

    Google Scholar 

Sources of Unpublished Materials

  • Kim, G. personal communication. Seoul National University. School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, RIO, Seoul. 151742, South Korea.

  • Zuppi, G. M. personal communication. 2137 Dorsoduro, Dipartamento di scienze ambientali, Venezia, 30123 Italy.

  • State University of New York at Stony Brook. Unpublished data. Research Experience for Undergraduates program 2002. State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Marine Sciences Research Center, State University of New York at Stony Brook, 11794, Stony Brook, New York

    John Rapaglia

Authors
  1. John Rapaglia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to John Rapaglia.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rapaglia, J. Submarine groundwater discharge into Venice Lagoon, Italy. Estuaries 28, 705–713 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02732909

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02732909

Keywords

Search

Navigation