Territorial Analysis and Hydrological Modeling of the Canale d’Aiedda Basin

The Canale d'Aiedda basin, together with the other basins of the Jonico-Tarantino territory, is part of the environmental area of Taranto. This site is recognized by the Italian State as an area that requires remediation of soil, subsoil, surface water and groundwater, in order to avoid environmental and health damages. The Canale d'Aiedda has the largest extension among the basins in the area and flows into the Mar Piccolo. The results of the territorial analysis of the Canale d'Aiedda basin defined in detail its geological, morphological and hydrological features, as well as the main environmental and land use characteristics. The information produced by the data analysis and the surveys carried out on the territory were archived in a GIS environment. The results of the field and laboratory activities as well as of the modelling are related to three specific objectives: nitrogen and phosphorus balance; monitoring of streamflow and water quality; hydrological modelling. Results of the nitrogen and phosphorus show a surplus of these nutrients. The methodology used is based on official data and the results are indicative of a pollution of agricultural origin. The water quality monitoring activity confirmed the results of the nutrients balance and showed a specific type of pollution deriving from the wastewater treatment plants. Based on the information obtained from the surveys, as well as from monitoring, hydrological simulations were carried out through the implementation of two distributed models, SWAT and AnnAGNPS, for the estimation of water discharge, sediment yields and nutrient loads deriving from point and non-point pollution sources.