Strategic groundwater resources in northern Latium volanic complexes (Italy): identification criteria and purposeful management

This paper discusses an appoach for identifying " strategic groundwater resources" for human consumption. The approach is illustrated in the northern Latium volcanic complexes of Italy. We point out the amount of grounwater of highest quality present in such geological frames and make some suggestions to optimize groundwater resoutces management planning. In this paper, the term "strategic" encompasses both geo-hydrogeologic and hydrodynamic conditions as well as the resources usage. In the near future, the use of groundwater resources must consider knowledge about aquifer systems and their geological and geometrical constraints as well as the impact and long-term consequences of their possible exploitation.