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Multi-source water characterisation for water supply and management strategies on a small Mediterranean island

Caractérisation multi-source pour des stratégies d’approvisionnement et de gestion de l’eau sur une petite île méditerranéenne

Caracterización del agua de múltiples fuentespara el suministro de agua y estrategias de gestión en una pequeña isla del Mediterráneo

地中海小岛上用于供水和管理策略的多源水特征

Caracterização da água de várias fontes para estratégias de gerenciamento e abastecimento de água em uma pequena ilha do Mediterrâneo

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Abstract

The small islands in the Mediterranean Sea suffer water shortages, aggravated by pressure from tourism during the dry season. Many are affected by the intense and increasing human water demand and the harsh climatic and geographic nature of the island terrain. The present study, carried out on the island of Favignana, Egadi Archipelago (southern Italy), evaluates the regime of recharge to the subsurface, and hypothesizes a solution for identifying the areas where groundwater is most abundant, as well as the best management options for human use. By means of hydrological measurements and chemical analyses, a specific location has been identified in the eastern sector of the island where groundwater has optimal quality and the water table is at a depth of only a few metres. In other areas of the island the groundwater is more saline, due to seawater intrusion, and it is present only at greater depths. The residents of the island have in the past lived harmoniously with the climatic and hydrological regime of the island, and have shown good ability to manage the groundwater resources, fed by the limited precipitation that comes in winter, using it as a supplement to the drinking water supply that comes from Trapani (mainland Sicily) by a submarine pipeline and by tanker. Optimized management of the groundwater resources could reduce the volume of freshwater transferred from the mainland.

Résumé

Les petites îles de la mer méditerranéenne souffrent du manque d’eau, aggravé par la pression du tourisme pendant la saison sèche. Beaucoupsont affectées par la demande intense et croissante en eau domestique et le difficile contexte climatique et géographique des îles. La présente étude, effectuée sur l’île de Favignana, archipel d’Egadi (Italie méridionale), évalue le régime de la recharge souterraine, et suggère une solution pour identifier les secteurs où les eaux souterraines sont les plus abondantes, ainsi que les meilleures options de gestion pour l’usage humain. Au moyen de mesures hydrologiques et d’analyses chimiques, un endroit spécifique a été identifié dans le secteur oriental de l’île où les eaux souterraines ont la qualité optimale et la nappe est. à une profondeur de quelques mètres seulementDans d’autres régions de l’île, les eaux souterraines sont plus salines, en raison de l’intrusion d’eau de mer, et elles sont présentes seulement à de plus grandes profondeurs. Les habitants de l’île ont dans le passé vécu harmonieusement avec le régime climatique et hydrologique de l’île, et ils ont montré leur bonne capacité à contrôler les ressources en eaux souterraines, alimentées par les précipitations limitées qui tombent en hiver, en les utilisant comme supplément à la distribution d’eau potable qui vient de Trapani (Sicile) par une canalisation submersible et par citerne. La gestion optimisée des ressources en eaux souterraines a pu réduire le volume d’eau douce transféré à partir de la Sicile.

Resumen

Las pequeñas islas del Mar Mediterráneo sufren escasez de agua, agravada por la presión del turismo durante la estación seca. Muchas se ven afectadas por la intensa y creciente demanda de agua por parte de la población, por la dureza del clima y la naturaleza geográfica del terreno insular. El presente estudio, llevado a cabo en la isla de Favignana, archipiélago de las islas Egadi (sur de Italia), evalúa el régimen de recarga al subsuelo y formula una hipótesis de solución para identificar las zonas donde las aguas subterráneas son más abundantes, así como las mejores opciones de gestión para el uso humano. Mediante mediciones hidrológicas y análisis químicos, se ha identificado una ubicación específica en el sector oriental de la isla donde las aguas subterráneas tienen una calidad óptima y el nivel freático está a una profundidad de sólo unos pocos metros. En otras zonas de la isla las aguas subterráneas son más salinas, debido a la intrusión de agua de mar, y sólo están presentes a mayores profundidades. Los habitantes de la isla han vivido en el pasado en armonía con el régimen climático e hidrológico de la isla, y han demostrado una buena capacidad de gestión de los recursos hídricos subterráneos, alimentados por las escasas precipitaciones que llegan en invierno, utilizándolos como complemento del suministro de agua potable que llega desde Trapani (Sicilia continental) por medio de un acueducto submarino y por cisternas. Una gestión optimizada de los recursos de agua subterránea podría reducir el volumen de agua dulce transferida desde el continente.

摘要

在干旱季节,旅游业的发展加剧了地中海小岛的水资源短缺。许多地区受到了不断增加的人类用水需求以及岛屿恶劣的气候和地理环境的影响。本研究以Egadi Archipelago(意大利南部)Favignana岛为例,评估了地下水补给的状况,并提出了一种确定地下水最丰富地区的解决方案,以及人类开发地下水的最佳管理方案。通过水文测量和化学分析,确定了该岛东部的某处位置,该处地下水质量最佳,地下水位埋深只有几米。在岛上的其他地区,由于海水入侵影响,地下水盐分更高,并且地下水埋深更大。在过去,岛上居民适应了岛上的气候和水文状况,同时有着很好的地下水资源管理能力,这些地下水资源是冬季有限降水补给的,并将其作为来自于Trapani (Sicily内陆地区)通过海底管道和油轮方式进行饮用供水的补充。优化管理地下水资源可以减少淡水由大陆向海洋的排泄水量。

Resumo

As pequenas ilhas do mar Mediterrâneo sofrem com a escassez de água, agravada pela pressão do turismo durante a estação seca. Muitos são afetados pela intensa e crescente demanda de água humana e pela dura natureza climática e geográfica do terreno da ilha. O presente estudo, realizado na ilha de Favignana, arquipélago de Egadi (sul da Itália), avalia o regime de recarga para o subsolo e propõe uma solução para identificar as áreas onde a água subterrânea é mais abundante, bem como as melhores opções de manejo e uso humano. Por meio de medições hidrológicas e análises químicas, foi identificada uma localização específica no setor leste da ilha, onde as águas subterrâneas têm ótima qualidade e o lençol freático está a uma profundidade de apenas alguns metros. Em outras áreas da ilha, as águas subterrâneas são mais salinas, devido à intrusão de água do mar, e estão presentes apenas em profundidades maiores. No passado, os moradores da ilha viviam harmoniosamente com o regime climático e hidrológico da ilha e demonstraram boa capacidade de gerenciar os recursos hídricos subterrâneos, alimentados pela precipitação limitada que ocorre no inverno, usando-a como um complemento ao consumo o abastecimento de água proveniente de Trapani (Sicília continental) por um aqueduto submarino e por tanque. O gerenciamento otimizado dos recursos de água subterrânea pode reduzir o volume de água doce transferida do continente.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Elisa Nardi for chemical analyses of cations by ICP-OES and Fabio Spaziani for assistance with data processing. Thanks are due to the reviewers for their helpful suggestions, which improved the quality of the article. The present research was funded by the GE.RI.N Project: MIUR – Art. 2, Law 21.12.2009.

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  1. Department for Sustainability, ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Via Anguillarese 301, 00123, Rome, Italy

    Sergio Cappucci, Maurizio De Cassan, Marcello Grillini, Marco Proposito & Augusto Screpanti

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  1. Sergio Cappucci
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Correspondence to Marco Proposito.

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Cappucci, S., De Cassan, M., Grillini, M. et al. Multi-source water characterisation for water supply and management strategies on a small Mediterranean island. Hydrogeol J 28, 1155–1171 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-020-02138-6

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