Protecting karst groundwater resources in Apulia, southern Italy

Apulia has a considerable importance from the hydrogeological point of view, due to presence of conspicuous underground water bodies. The Apulian hydrogeological system is based on the presence of Mesozoic successions, characterized by fissured and karst limestones. In this context, the Murge plateau represents the largest hydrogeological unit in the region (Cotecchia, 2014). These karst environments are highly vulnerable to a variety of degradation and pollution problems. Pollutants in liquid and solid waste could easily move through the systems of conduits and joints in the rock mass, contaminating subsurface water (Parise & Pascali, 2003). Protecting these water resources is necessary for a variety of reasons, but first of all because they represent an important reference for the socio-economic development of communities. In Apulia they would provide about a quarter of the total amount of urban water supply (Maggiore & Pagliarulo, 1999). Pollution related to human activities is a major risk for these water resources, which have generally a high value and are considered of high quality (Polemio & Dragone, 2004). Based on current knowledge, the main measures necessary to reduce pollution and qualitative degradation of groundwater resources could concern: the identification and limitation of potentially harmful activities, the prevention of illegal waste disposal in karst areas, and the establishment of aquifer protection zones. These measures cannot be separated from educational campaigns addressed to inform the local communities about the importance of groundwater resources and the vulnerability of karst environments (Kačaroğlu, 1999).