Bracciano Lake is located in Central Italy, about 50 kilometres north of Rome. The lake has an area of about 57 km^2, a maximum depth of 160 m and a hydrogeological basin of about 110 km2. The Lake and its basin are located in a volcanic area, mainly made up of ignimbrites and tuffs, laid over low permeability sedimentary lithotypes. The volcanic rocks form a dual porosity aquifer characterized by good water quality. The aquifer is used for drinking water purposes and for irrigation. Since, in the 1960s, the Water Supply Agency “ACEA” started exploiting the lake to supply drinking water to Rome (total mean discharge of about 0.8 m3/s), the discharge of the natural lake outlet, the river Arrone, has gradually dropped off, becoming nil in the last decade. The lake and its basin have a high cultural, environmental and touristic-economic value, but it is not clear for how long the area will be in this situation, as there are plans to increase the water supply from the lake as well as from the aquifer. The situation is worsened by the fact that in the area there is a climatic variation occurring, characterized by a slight increase of the temperature and by a decrease in the average yearly rainfall. This paper summarizes the current problems and considers some likely future climatic scenarios relating to a new rational programme of water management, needed to minimize the impact of climatic changes and increasing water demand.
Environmental and Hydrological Problems in Times of Climatic Change and Increasing Water Demand: the case of Bracciano Lake and its Aquifer (Central Italy).
DI MATTEO, Lucio;DRAGONI, Valter Ulderico;GIONTELLA, CECILIA
2010
Abstract
Bracciano Lake is located in Central Italy, about 50 kilometres north of Rome. The lake has an area of about 57 km^2, a maximum depth of 160 m and a hydrogeological basin of about 110 km2. The Lake and its basin are located in a volcanic area, mainly made up of ignimbrites and tuffs, laid over low permeability sedimentary lithotypes. The volcanic rocks form a dual porosity aquifer characterized by good water quality. The aquifer is used for drinking water purposes and for irrigation. Since, in the 1960s, the Water Supply Agency “ACEA” started exploiting the lake to supply drinking water to Rome (total mean discharge of about 0.8 m3/s), the discharge of the natural lake outlet, the river Arrone, has gradually dropped off, becoming nil in the last decade. The lake and its basin have a high cultural, environmental and touristic-economic value, but it is not clear for how long the area will be in this situation, as there are plans to increase the water supply from the lake as well as from the aquifer. The situation is worsened by the fact that in the area there is a climatic variation occurring, characterized by a slight increase of the temperature and by a decrease in the average yearly rainfall. This paper summarizes the current problems and considers some likely future climatic scenarios relating to a new rational programme of water management, needed to minimize the impact of climatic changes and increasing water demand.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
