Intrusione salina nel delta del Fiume Tevere. Geologia, Idrologia ed Idrogeologia del settore romano della piana costiera

The purpose of this project was to define the hydrogeological scheme of the Tiber delta by means of the reconstruction of the sedimentary bodies to identify aquifers and aquiclude. The hydrogeological complexes of delta are overlain on plio-pleistocenic deposits from which depend the morphology and geometry, affecting recharge and flow distributions and the relationships with the neighbouring hydrogeological units. For the hydrological investigations 120 wells have been considered to observe the water level, and electrical conductivity, temperature and ph were detected in the sites. Beside, given the presence of surface hydrology, channels and water-scooping machine systems, in a network of points a detailed topographic survey, and a physico-chemical study of the waters, was carried out. The objective of the fieldwork was to map the properties of the groundwater (and non groundwater): the resulting thematic maps, water-table contours map, electrical conductivity contours map, temperature contours map, can be interpreted to observe the level of groundwater-surface and the salinity of the waters that can be inferred from the electrical conductivity. The results show a saline intrusion and a widespread contamination of the Tiber delta, that represents a very high risk to water management. A consistent and rigorous groundwater protection policy is needed to assess the groundwater vulnerability.