Hydrogeological monitoring and characterization of the karst aquifer feeding the Pertuso spring, South east of Latium Region (Central Italy)

The hydrogeological characterization of water resources is an important tool to evaluate the impacts of infrastructure designs on groundwater and surface water in the aim of achieving sustainable management and protection of these important resources. The identification of hydrogeological processes is important for the preservation and protection of water resources to evaluate the potential environmental impacts. On the bases of Legislative Decree 152/2006, as modified by DM 260/2010, any infrastructure design should take in consideration an Environmental Monitoring Plan, for the hydrogeological settings of the study area. The main objective of this study was to characterize the major environmental components of the upper Valley of Aniene River in the South east of Latium Region (Central Italy). This paper deals with the planning of a multi-displinary monitoring approach related to the exploitation project of the Pertuso spring, which is going to be exploited to supply an important water network of the South part of Roma district. The study area is located in the Upper Valley of Aniene River and belongs to an important karst aquifer, mainly made of dolomitic limestones and dolomites of Cretaceous age. The peculiar fragility of this aquifer, feeding Pertuso spring, requires a special attention for the planning and implementation of monitoring, which regards the surface water and groundwater. For this reason it was interesting to know in details the quantitative characterization of the Pertuso spring, in the aim of to protect catchment area which is directly affect the natural hydrogeological balance of this aquifer. Thus, a multidisciplinary monitoring plan has been set up, including quantitative measurements as well as hydrogeochemical ones, both for the spring with a complex outcoming form and the upper part of Aniene River down-streaming. The Environmental Monitoring Plan and the first approaches will be presented in this study.