University of Palermo, Palermo - Italy
ADVANCED STRATEGIES FOR THE RELIABLE KNOWLEDGE AND
MITIGATION OF CONTAMINATION RISK IN COASTAL MEDITERRANEAN
ADVANCED STRATEGIES FOR THE RELIABLE KNOWLEDGE AND
AQUIFERS
MITIGATION OF CONTAMINATION RISK IN COASTAL MEDITERRANEAN
AQUIFERS
Antonio Cimino, Adolfo Cimino, Antonino Oieni
Antonio Cimino,University
Adolfo Cimino,
Antonino Oieni
of Palermo,
Italy
University of Palermo, Italy
cimino@unipa.it; adolfo19@virgilio.it; oieniantonino@gmail.com
cimino@unipa.it; adolfo19@virgilio.it; oieniantonino@gmail.com
REDUCING THE ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS
IN THE NEW CROWDED SOCIETIES: A
CONTINUOUS CHALLENGE IN THE
EMUNI AREAS TOO
The problem of
environmental resource
availability regards the
entire world. It regards also
groundwater resources.
This problem is spreading
also in the economically more
developed areas, where
accessibility to good quality
waters becomes more and
more difficult. This crisis is
rising particularly in the
Mediterranean Emuni areas,
somewhere affected by
advancing desertification.
Emuni institutions from 14 countries
REDUCING THE ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS
IN THE NEW CROWDED SOCIETIES: A
CONTINUOUS CHALLENGE IN THE
EMUNI AREAS TOO
Solution efforts are really
hard, and the exigency of
suitable surveying
techniques is currently
recognized.
Rational managing of the
whole water resources is
suggested by many
researchers, also considering
both traditional and non
conventional water reserves,
respectively represented by
aquifers and wastewaters or
sea-waters laundering.
Emuni institutions from 14 countries
REDUCING THE ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS IN THE NEW CROWDED
SOCIETIES: A CONTINUOUS CHALLENGE IN THE
MEDITERRANEAN EMUNI AREAS TOO
This problem has become
heavy in the Mediterranean
coastal megalopolis in more or
less advanced phases of
maturity, where the advanced
urbanization and the relevant
high water demand affect the
evolution of consumptions and
the accessibility itself to this
precious resource. Thus, the
perspectives of ulterior
development - as respect to an
evolutionary saturation appear less and less likely,
with a necessary redistribution
in various spaces of human
resources and, therefore, of
consumptions, with more
advanced managerial
modalities.
The project to which this paper
belongs has the main goal to
mitigate hydrogeological risk
contamination in very crowded
sectors of Sicily, mainly located
along the coast. Here, groundwater
quality and availability are strongly
influenced by climatic changes,
aquifer overdrafts and heavy
anthropization of the territory.
ENVIRONMENTAL RISK OF POLLUTION OF
GROUNWATERS IN NORTHERN SICILY
Sicily region includes noticeable
karst and alluvial aquifers,
abundantly described by numerous
specific papers, which provide an
exhaustive knowledge of their
features. In coastal sectors,
belonging to the Northern belt of
the Island, pollution risk mappings
have been performed in GIS
environment.
Palermo
Sicily aquifers have to be considered - as in the
Acquedolci and S. Agata di Militello littoral areas real water complex systems, which need a nonconventional analysis of them. Groundwaters are
mainly recharged by inland karst relieves, that play
also the noticeable role of mitigation against
contamination. Authors in this note propose
innovative systems for a better zoning and
classification of pollution susceptibility.
THE ACQUEDOLCI PLAIN, NORTHERN COASTAL BELT
Sicily
Tyrrhenian Sea
1) Sandy-gravelly-arenaceous complex; 2) sandyarenaceous Quaternary complex; 3) clayey-marlyarenaceous complex; 4) Mesozoic calcareousdolomitic complex; 5) V.E.S.’; 6) bore-holes
An ideal test site for a
pollution risk estimation is
represented by the Acquedolci
plain, which lies in the
Northern coastal belt of Sicily.
It is geologically covered by
sandy-gravelly-arenaceous
sediments belonging to
Quaternary and hosting a
productive water-bearing
stratum. The plain is bordered
by the Tyrrhenian Sea at the
North and by steep Mesozoic
calcareous dolomitic relieves
at the South, these last
hydrogeologically supplying
the littoral aquifers.
BIBLIOGRAPHIC
DATA
ACCESS
DATABASE
FIELD
DATA
SOFTWARE
IDRISI,
SURFER,
AUTOCAD ...
GEOREFERENCE
TERRITORIAL DATA
ORVERLAY
ELABORATION
SINTACS
PARAMETERS
WEIGHT
STRINGS
TERRITORIAL
DANGER
VULNERABILITY
SYNOPTIC SCHEME OF
POLLUTION RISK
ASSESSMENT
RISK
QUALITY
THE FIRST STEP
• PERFORMING SINTACS POLLUTION INTRINSIC
VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT OF AQUIFER
(NORTHERN SICILY TEST-SITES)
key sentence:
“SINTACS method considers scores and
weights relevant to typical hydrogeological
elements closely affecting the capability of
an aquifer to be contaminated by ingestion
of dangerous substances hydro-transported
from surface”
Topographic
elements
Parameters
S
Contour lines
I
N
THE SINTACS STANDARD
PROCEDURE TO ASSESS
POLLUTION
VULNERABILITY
Hydrography
(Civita & De Maio, 2000)
T
Urbanized areas
A
THE SINTACS PARAMETERS
C

Depth to water
S

Infiltration
Multiplying weights

Attenuation of the unsaturated zone

Typology of the overburden

Aquifer features

Hydraulic conductivity

Slope of topography
I SINTACS = 7j=1 Pj Wj
Intrinsic vulnerability
Procedure to normalize
vulnerability classes
Normalized and classified
Intrinsic vulnerability
SINTACS Vulnerability map
SINTACS VULNERABILITY MAP OF GROUNDWATER
ACQUEDOLCI COASTAL AREA, NORTHERN SICILY
Vulnerability rates
Vulnerability grade is generally
medium to elevated, especially
in the alluvial sediments.
THE SECOND STEP
• PERFORMING GALDIT POLLUTION SPECIFIC
VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT OF AQUIFER
(NORTHERN SICILY TEST-SITES)
key sentence:
“GALDIT method considers the specific seawater
intrusion vulnerability, by evaluating six particular
elements, all directly influencing
sea encroachment events or depending on them”
THE GALDIT STANDARD PROCEDURE TO ASSESS POLLUTION
VULNERABILITY
(Lobo Ferreira et al., 2001-2005)
GALDIT HYDROGEOLOGICAL PARAMETERS
G
Groundwater occurrence (Aquifer Type)
A
Aquifer hydraulic conductivity
L
depth to groundwater Level above
the sea
D
I
Distance from the shore
Impact of existing status of seawater
intrusion in the area
T
Thickness of the aquifer
GALDIT SPECIFIC VULNERABILITY MAP OF GROUNDWATER
ACQUEDOLCI COASTAL AREA, NORTHERN SICILY
6
6
Wi R / W
i 1
i
i 1
GALDIT-Index
GALDIT vulnerability
indexes are generally
medium to high,
especially in the coastal
alluvial sediments

6
1  R1  (3)  R2  (4)  R3  (4)  R4  (1)  R5  (2)  R6 / Wi
i 1
i
THE THIRD STEP
• PERFORMING POLLUTION VULNERABILITY
MAPPING BY FUZZY LOGIC APPLICATION
(NORTHERN SICILY TEST-SITES)
key sentence:
“Implementation of the consequential
vulnerability mapping through fuzzy
logic software (MATLAB® environment)”
FUZZY LOGIC AND MODIFIED SINTACS POLLUTION
VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT
The fuzzy logic is a valid approach to
solve ambiguity - in deterministic
vulnerability assessment - arising
from numerous uncertainties inherent
to the standards like the mentioned
SINTACS.
Authors have firstly realized a
reduction of the parameters excluding
soil, non-saturated and saturated
layers, so minimizing acknowledged
redundancies in the existing
SINTACS application.
Pollution vulnerability map of the
Acquedolci plain performed by the
modified SINTACS method (SICS
Release), relevant to four parameters:
Depth to water, Net recharge, Hydraulic
conductivity, Slope).
Fuzzy-logic vulnerability map of the Acquedolci
plain (Release SICS)
Finally, an implementation of the
consequential vulnerability mapping
through fuzzy logic software was
performed
Conclusive considerations
•
Authors have reviewed the most recent applications of new or modified
standards
•
Pollution vulnerability settings have been performed in the Acquedolci plain
test-site aquifer
•
These experiences have led to a better comprehension of the
hydrogeological passive scenery offered by the complex aquifers occurring
in the selected area
•
By fuzzy logic Authors add a further mathematical aid to vulnerability
assessment minimizing uncertainties and probabilistic effects due to
stochastic hydrogeological parameters
The above considerations and outcomes
can be replicated in how many possible
sectors, giving a universal interest to the
exposed procedures to be extended to
similar coastal Mediterranean areas of the
Emuni environment.
Selected references
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Chachadi, A.G. and J. P Lobo Ferriera, 2001. Sea water intrusion
vulnerability mapping of aquifers using the GALDIT method. COASTIN,
a coastal policy research newsletter, 4: 7-9.
Cimino, A., Adolfo Cimino, G. Giunta and A. Oieni 2007.
Hydrogeological risk assessment based on natural and anthropic
events. International Workshop on Ecological Complex Systems:
Stochastic Dynamics and Patterns, Terrasini, Palermo, Italy, 22-26 July,
2007, Book of Abstract, 37.
Cimino, A., F. Andolina, S. Cappadona Ignazzitto and Oieni A. 2008.
Recenti elaborazioni idrogeologiche e geofisiche nella fascia costiera di
Acquedolci - San Fratello (Messina). Acque Sotterranee. 25: 9-23.
Cimino, A., C. Cosentino, A. Oieni and L. Tranchina 2007. Applicability
of GALDIT assessing vulnerability model in Sicily coastal aquifers.
Epitome 2: 185.
Cimino, A., F. Fauci, R. Grammauta, D. Gurrera and Oieni A. 2009.
Image processing in pollution vulnerability assessment of Sicily aquifers.
Epitome 3: 26-27.
Cimino, A., Adolfo Cimino and A. Oieni 2010. Vulnerability assessment
by fuzzy logic in a coastal aquifer of Northern Sicily. In press.
Civita, M. and M. De Maio 2000. Valutazione e cartografia automatica
della vulnerabilità degli acquiferi all’inquinamento con il sistema
parametrico SINTACS R5. Quaderni di Tecniche di Protezione
Ambientale, 72, 226 pp. Bologna, Italy: Pitagora Editor.
Kosko, B. 1993. Fuzzy Thinking: The New Science of Fuzzy Logic. New
York: Hyperion Books.
Morris, B.L., A.R. Lawrence and S.S.D. Foster 1997. Sustainable
groundwater management for fast-growing cities: Mission achievable or
mission impossible? In: “Groundwater in the Urban Environment”, I:
“Problems, Processes and Management”, ed. J. Chilton et al., 55-74.
Rotterdam (The Netherlands): A.A. Balkema.
Oieni, A., A. Cimino and L. Tranchina 2010. Advances in contamination
risk setting of aquifers in Sicily: the karst Nebrodi region. Speleologia
Iblea 14.
Zadeh, L.A. 1965 - Fuzzy sets. Information and Control. 8: 338-353.
Thanks for
your
attention!