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Extractive waste (EW), including tailings, are produced in large quantities during mining activities.In recent years, the linear economic model (based on “take-use-and-throw” approach) has been replaced by a circular approach, in which even waste and extractive residues acquire importance through sustainable use and recovery.The use and recovery of EW shows also positive technological (in term of technological innovations), economic and social (in terms of new expertise and skills linked to sustainability), and environmental impacts (to be evaluated and faced to reduce the ecological footprint).The use and recovery of EW takes place through the application and development of innovative protocols linked to waste exploitation (sustainable and environmentally friendly), i.e. BAT, which aim at the technological and process improvement of the activities and at the production of renewed, highly performing green materials. Mining waste and tailings, if suitably characterized, can be used to improve and make sustainable the works connected to the management of mining activities.The qualitative-quantitative characterization of EW is essential not only for any subsequent reuse but also for assessing the extent of environmental impacts (AMD, dust, high concentrations of heavy metals, etc.) in the various matrices and risk to human health and the environment.The application areas of use vary according to the type of waste and mining tailings, the morphological characteristics of the deposits, and the geological, geomorphological and logistic context of the area.In this study, some examples of sustainable use of tailings and mining waste are presented (i.e. use of calcareous tailings to reduce acid drainage and the production of artificial substrates for environmental rehabilitation, waste for mining backfills, waste/landfill waste recovered for extraction RM/CRM, etc.). Further to this, positive impacts on the economic, environmental and technological/social level are also analysed. The latter actions, together with energy saving and the adoption of appropriate financial instruments, contribute to the transition of mining activities into "sustainable mining".

The annual Congress of the Società Geologica Italiana (SGI) and Società Italiana di MIneralogia e Petrologia (SIMP), held in Turin in September 2022 and dedicated to Geosciences for a sustainable future, has been the occasion to critically think on the role of the Geosciences for our society and planet, on the position geoscientists deserve and the role they must take in the formation of citizens, protection from natural hazards and preservation of cultural and natural heritage. In continuation of our previously published work Are we ready for a sustainable development? A survey among young geoscientists in Italy , the present study broadens the sample analyzed to include the entire Italian community of geoscientists and aims to highlight: 1) The relevance of the ethical aspects connected to the work of professionals and scholars, in accordance with the values of geoethics; 2) the most widely held views about the connections between the Earth Sciences and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda; 3) which initiatives have been put in place by Italian Earth Sciences departments on education for sustainability and which can be the best strategies for developing sustainability education related to geoscience issues. Based on 230 answers to a questionnaire with open and closed questions sent to the participants at the Congress, the results show that the Italian geocommunity has great awareness of the ethical implications of its work and research, in particular of the responsibility towards the environment; despite this consciousness, the average level of knowledge about the 2030 Agenda and its goals is still scarce. To fill this gap, the need for sustainability education initiatives in departments is recognized as urgent, as well as the use of inter- and transdisciplinary educational approaches that can train scholars and professionals capable of addressing the complex challenges of our time.

This study represents the first regional-scale investigation in the Piedmont Po plain about the relationship between groundwater temperature in the shallow aquifer (GWT) and climate variability. The aim of this investigation is to study and compare time trends in air temperature (AT) and GWT over a 10-year time period (between 2010 and 2019), and to evaluate possible relationships between the two parameters. For doing so we had used daily measures taken from 41 monitoring wells located in the shallow aquifer and 20 weather stations throughout the Piedmont Po plain area.Both AT and GWT showed an increase over the observed period with a more pronounced growth of the AT. With regard to AT all the weather stations had shown an increasing trend with a variation in the annual mean 1.7 and 2.2 ◦C/10 years; moreover, GWT annual mean generally shows a variation between −0.3 and 2.1 ◦C/10 years. This result allows to state that GWT is more resilient to climate change than AT. However, some monitoring wells in the study area showed a behaviour that partially deviated from the standard trend observed for the majority of the region: these wells were influenced by particular anthropic factors (for example the paddy fields) or natural elements (as the monitoring wells located downstream of melting glaciers, or the wells located close to Rivers). Further investigations will be conducted in future in Piedmont plain areas with different behaviour, in order to better understand their dynamics and the factors that may influence GWT and how they are affected by climate change.Moreover, this study wanted to stress the importance of the knowledge of the localization in wells of the instruments for the GWT measurement, to have the most accurate and comparable data. As already state in literature the GWT fluctuation in the bottom part of the aquifer was milder than the fluctuation observed in the most superficial part. Therefore, it has been possible to observe that in the study area when the depth of the instrument increased, the maximum and minimum peaks of the GWT shifted in time respect to the maximum and minimum peaks of the AT.Lastly, we are conducting a groundwater and heat flow simulation of the shallow aquifer of the Turin Plain area using a numerical model with Smoker Heatflow code. The calibration performed with the available hydrogeological setting information of the area and the GWT and AT data will allow us to model the future spatial distribution of GWT in the study area, according to the IPCC forecast scenarios.

The Perrot spring (1305 m a.s.l.), located on the right side of the Chalamy Stream, inside the Monte Avic Natural Park (Aosta Valley, NW Italy), is an important source of drinking water for Champdepraz municipality.The spring is placed on a large slope characterized by the presence of debris covers of various origin (glacial, fluvial and landslide) above the bedrock (serpentinised peridotites and metabasites of the Zermatt-Saas Zone, Penninic Domain) which crops out only in the upper part of the basin.The water source is fed by rainwater infiltrating and flowing into the shallow deposits, with a permeability by porosity, and into the most fractured portion of the substrate. The water emerges at the contact between the topographic surface and impermeable or semi-permeable basal lithologies (unfractured crystalline rocks and glacio-lacustrine deposits).The aim of this study is to delineate the recharge processes of the spring and the definition of the recharge area extension that is very important for its conservation.In this view, an analysis of groundwater spring parameters (e.g. daily discharge, temperature and electrical conductivity) were conducted for the years 2018-2020.The flow rate ranges between 22 and 47 L/s with two maxima, one in spring and one in autumn; the electrolytic conductivity varies between 60 and 75 S/cm. The variation of groundwater temperature is very low, between 4.9°C and 5.5°C. The low discharge and temperature variations suggest a relatively high average share of the supply area and a sufficiently deep flow circuit.The analysis of these data shows the presence of two contributions to the spring supply: a spring contribution from snowmelt, characterized by a low INCREASE in flow rate, and an autumn contribution from rainwater infiltration.Moreover, sampling campaigns were also carried out in the entire Chalamy stream basin in August 2021 and January, July, September 2022. In particular, water from lakes, rivers, spring and rainwater was sampled.During the field campaigns, pH, electrical conductivity and temperature were measured in situ. Chemical analysis of major ions and stable isotopes (δ2H and δ18O) were then conducted on water samples.The chemical analyses show a groundwater chemistry coherent with the regional geology: the hydrochemical facies is bicarbonate-sodium, the main cations are Ca2+ and Mg2+ and the anions HCO3-. Finally, isotopic analyses of precipitation and spring water suggest a recharge elevation of around 2,500 m a.s.l.

The precipitation constitutes one of the main sources of the groundwater resources. The chemical composition of precipitation is influenced both by natural and anthropic sources. For this reason, it is essential to monitor rainfall potentially able to influence groundwater quality. The Po Plain sector (NW Italy) is one of the most urbanized, industrialized and air polluted area in Europe but few studies have been conducted in this area, particularly in the Piedmont Region.The main purpose of this study was: I) to provide a preliminary assessment of quality and isotopic composition of rainwater in the western Po Plain, II) to show the spatial and temporal differences of rain chemical composition between the monitoring points, and III) to define the influence of rain to groundwater chemistry.A long-term trends on the groundwater concentration of NO3– and SO42– in the shallow aquifer on 227 monitoring points of the Regional Monitoring network database were conducted (2000-2020 period).In the last decades, in Europe a large effort was carried out to reduce sulphur and nitrogen emission in the atmosphere. This resulted in a sharp decrease in the deposition of SO42– and nitrogen compounds.The rain analysis of long-term trends in near regions, revealed a large proportion of significant decreasing trends in the concentration of both sulphate and nitrogen compounds.Actually also the analysis of groundwater long-term trends revealed a significant decreasing trends in the concentration of NO3– and SO42– in the shallow aquifer.A sampling campaigns was carried out during one year (September 2021 – September 2022) in 4 monitoring points located in the western Po Plain. Rainfall collection occurred every 2 months, for a total of 20 samples. Physical-chemical analyzes of the main ions and isotopic analyzes (δ18O, δ2H) were conducted for all samples.The period September 2021 – September 2022 was characterized by a rainfall deficit in the winter period in the NW Italy, recording a 62% reduction in rainfall (compared to the climatic average of the thirty year period 1981-2010).The processing of rainfall chemical data has shown different concentrations between the monitoring points and a temporal variability. High NO3– and SO42– concentrations were observed.Rainfalls sampled after the winter dry period (March-April samples) show higher ions concentrations (NO3– 13 mg/L, SO42– 4 mg/L) respect to other periods. Differences in rainfall samples depend on the location of the monitoring point (urban or rural areas).Isotopic data has shown different spatial and temporal isotopic signals, linked to the location and elevation of the monitoring points. In the δ18O/δ2H diagram all isotopic signals are not placed on the Local Meteoric World Line, potentially linked to climate change.The isotopic signals are within the ranges of previous studies (δ18O: -12,6/-6,2; δ2H: -82,15/-35,1 ‰ (min/max)).In conclusion, the rain ions concentrations are influenced by anthropic pollution, they are affected by dry periods and they appears to influence the concentration in groundwater.

It’s now recognized that a global climate change is taking place, leading to an increase in temperatures and a variation in precipitation regime, also affecting groundwater (GW) (Taylor et al., 2013).In this study we want to evaluate how climate variability affects GW temperature (GWT) in the Piedmont Po plain (NW Italy).The Piedmont Po plain covers the 27% of the whole region and it’s the most important GW reservoir of Piedmont. It consists, from top to bottom, by Alluvial deposit complex (lower Pleistocene-Holocene), that hosts a shallow unconfined aquifer, the “Villafranchiano” transitional complex (late Pliocene-early Pleistocene), that hosts a multilayered aquifer, and a Marine complex (Pliocene) hosting a confined aquifer.For this research, 41 wells in the shallow aquifer and 20 weather stations were selected throughout the Piedmont Po plain area, and GW and air temperature parameters were analysed for the period 2010-2019.Both GW and air temperature data (respectively, GWT and AT) were firstly studied with basic statistical analysis (mean, maxima, minima) and then with the Mann-Kendall and Theil-Sen methods to evaluate the trend. The AT monthly mean data have a mean increase of 1,69 °C/10years; the monthly mean GWT also show a general increase in all the plain, with a mean of 0.85 °C/10years.Then to compare water and air temperature, the Voronoi polygons method was used on QGis by centring the polygons on the weather stations. From this comparison, it was possible to highlight that in most cases (37 on 41, thus 90% of the analysed couples of temperature data) there is a greater increase in the monthly mean AT than in the monthly mean GWT.The same behaviour was observed for the monthly minima and maxima GW and AT.These results testify a greater resilience of GWT to climate variability. Future insights will be a detailed analysis of the factors influencing the more or less evident increase in GWT in relation to AT (e.g. depth of the water table, position of the monitoring well, position of the probe inside the well). ReferencesTaylor R.G., Scanlon B., Döll P., Rodell M., van Beek R., Wada Y., Longuevergne L.,Leblanc M., Famiglietti J.S., Edmunds M., Konikow L., Green T.R., Chen J.,Taniguchi M., Bierkens M.F.P., MacDonald A., Fan Y., Maxwell R.M., YechieliY., Gurdak J.J., Allen D., Shamsudduha M., Hiscock K., Yeh P.J.F., Holman I.,Treidel H. 2013. Ground water and climate change. Nat. Clim. Change 3, 322-329.

The Maggiore Valley well field plays a fundamental role in supplying drinking water to a large territory of the Piedmont Region (north-western Italy) and has been intensively exploited since the early XX century. Due to the lack of other relevant sources of drinking water in this part of Piedmont region, this well field represents a drinking water reserve of regional importance.This water resource is host in a deep multi-layered aquifer system. The recharge area of the deep exploited aquifer is located towards the Po Plain, west (Turin Plain) and south (Cuneo Plain) of the study area. Most likely, the deep aquifer is recharged from west by Po river, that in this area is a losing river, due to the highly permeable Quaternary gravelly sand deposits in correspondence with the river.The main purpose of this study was to confirm the interaction between deep aquifer and the Po River through a hydrochemical and isotopic assessment, and to characterize the different water resource quality in this areas (Po Plain, Poirino plateau, Maggiore Valley area). Two sampling campaigns were carried out both in the shallow and deep aquifers (March and June 2021) for a total of 128 samples. Physical-chemical analyzes of the main ions on all samples and isotopic analyzes (δ18O, δ2H) on 50 samples were conducted.The processing of chemical data has confirmed the bicarbonate-calcium facies for the majority of the shallow and deep aquifers samples. Moreover, clear hydrochemical differences were observed between the investigated sectors; e.g. the shallow aquifer of the Poirino Plateau shows nitrate concentrations superior than the limits, unlike the deep aquifer of Maggiore Valley is characterized by low concentration of nitrate and other ions. The processing of isotopic data, combined with previous data, made it possible to identify a gradual increase in values of the isotopic composition along the flow direction into the Cuneo deep aquifer due to the progressive interaction with the shallow aquifer; moreover, isotopic data confirmed the interaction between the Po River (more negative values) and the shallow aquifer (more positive values) along the watercourse in the Turin Po Plain, resulting with a more negative isotopic composition in the shallow aquifer compared to nearby areas.In the Maggiore Valley, the isotopic signals of the deep aquifer, flowing from the Turin plain and interpreted as potentially influenced by the Po River showed an isotopic composition highly similar to the watercourse, with to the least enriched waters of the area.The isotopic signals of the deep aquifers in the Maggiore Valley flowing from the Cuneo plain (more positive) and Turin plain (more negative) were distinguished and the mixing between these converging aquifers in the well field area was verified.In conclusion, the stable isotopes suggest an interaction between the Po River and the deep aquifer of the Maggiore Valley wells.The study provides an additional tool for a better groundwater management and protection of a regional importance drinking water reserve.

This study provides a description of the hydrogeologic, hydrogeochemical and isotopic setting of the Chibunga river basin in the Province of Chimborazo (Ecuador). The basin has an area of approximately 514 km2 and 44 km in length. Its main river, the Chibunga River, originates on the slopes of the Chimborazo Volcano. The study area is located at an altitude comprised between 6268 aslm of Chimborazo volcano and 2598 aslm. This area has suffered for years of social conflicts for the access to water, due to an inadequate water resources management system. Moreover, there is a deficiency of information about the water quality and groundwater recharge. The aims of this study was to investigate hydrogeochemical features of the Chibunga water resources and to improve information about hydrogeological structure, groundwater recharge processes and water quality.From a hydrogeological point of view, a multilayer aquifer system is present, consisting in volcanoclastic deposits, and alternating pyroclastic and lava layers. An unconfined shallow aquifer is located in the most superficial part, feeding the plain springs. More in depth, confined and semiconfined aquifers are hosted in the more permeable layers, and are used for drinking water purposes. The plain is bordered by volcanic formations, mainly of andesitic rocks, characterized by a low permeability by fracturing. According to the literature, the aquifer system is mainly recharged by melting glaciers from the Chimborazo volcano. However, glaciers have been affected by a generalize retreat in the last decades that influences the water availability.In this view, sampling campaigns were carried out to improve the hydrogeochemical characterization of precipitation, surface water and groundwater of the area.The analyses of major elements highlight that, although Ca-HCO3 hydrochemical facies is the most common, a wide variability can be found in the groundwater of the area. On the whole, excluding the wells nearby urban settlements, chemical analyses show good quality of the water for drinking, irrigation, and agricultural use. Isotopic results, represented in δ18O – δ2H plot, are close to the Global Meteoric Water Line with a d-excess on average 16.3. Water stable isotopes reveal the contribution of precipitation to springs (δ18O ranging between -15.9 and -14.5; and; δ2H ranging between -110.5 and -99.2) at different altitude, while, near-stream groundwater has a similar isotopic signature to that of the river water (δ18O ranging between -14.4 and -13.7; and; δ2H ranging between -96.5 and -92.7) and reveal the interaction between surface and groundwater system.

During the last decades, especially the last one, the importance of geoethics has been highlighted by the major consciousness about the role of geoscience, and geoscientists, on environmental and social challenges that the world has to face.This awareness has been raised in accordance with the 17 sustainable development goals of the UNESCO 2030 Agenda. This document led to the wider popularity of the concept of education for sustainability (EfS) as an evolution of what was formerly known as environmental education (EE) or education for sustainable development (ESD). The main purpose of EfS is to promote an inter and trans-disciplinary knowledge, capable of framing the complexity of the current crisis.In one of the last publications about geoethics (Di Capua, Peppoloni 2019) the authors encourage geoscientists to be aware of the geological community role and to reflect on the ethical responsibility that this implies. Moving from this call for engagement, this study focuses on the Italian situation.Does the Italian Earth Sciences community have enough knowledge and a real shared interest on sustainability, in order to shift to a geoethical perspective? This study shows the results of a survey conducted between the participants of BeGeo21, the first Italian national congress dedicated to young geoscientists (MSc and PhD), held in Napoli in October 2021. The data analysis shows that the majority of respondents has scarce knowledge about sustainability and the 17 SDGs and only a few had the possibility to attend courses and seminars about these topics in their department. Nonetheless, the importance of the sustainability, and thus geoethic, point of view for the future of Geosciences is well recognized and there’s a wide request for our higher education institutions to increase the number of activities connected to EfS.

Asbestos is classified as carcinogenic to humans (Class 1) by IARC because is known that may induce fatal diseases when respired. Consequently, asbestos occurrence is principally monitored in air.Historically, asbestos had not been investigated in water, but nowadays waterborne asbestos is gaining new attention since it constitutes a non-conventional exposure way: it could be ingested, particularly if it reaches the tap water system, but also be a secondary source of airborne fibres, when asbestos migrates from water to air. Accordingly, it could be considered an Emerging Pollutant in the water matrix because it has not been systematically monitored in the past and it could represent a problem for human health and environment, requiring an accurate risk assessment.Therefore, two sampling campaigns have been settled on surface waters and groundwater of the Lanzo Valleys and Balangero Plain, in North-Western Alps (Italy): the area is rich in Naturally Occurring Asbestos (NOA) and naturally occurring asbestiform minerals non-asbestos classified containing rocks and sediments which can release fibres in the water system when subjected to weathering and erosion. An extensive electron microscopy study (by SEM-EDS and TEM-EDS) of waterborne mineral fibres is currently in progress to define how many and which type of fibres can be found in water. As waterborne fibres could constitute a secondary source of airborne fibres, their typical dimensions would be defined to assess possible respirability risk for humans in case of migration from water to air.Fibres water-to-air migration may occur particularly if asbestos is dispersed in surface moving water, such as in rivers and streams. Fibres can be released in air under collapse of bubbles and foams from polluted waters in natural environment. To study possible asbestos passage from water to air in moving water and evaluate possible related risk, an experimental setup was created, in which chrysotile polluted water subjected to bubbling was placed in a close system. Four tests were run with nil, low, mid and high concentration of waterborne chrysotile and consequent airborne concentration was measured.Waterborne fibres were analysed as well to verify if chrysotile sample may undergo transformation when present in moving water and to define typical dimensions for waterborne fibres, in order to evaluate if they could be a risk for humans in case of water-to-air migration. In addition, an attempt has been made to define a limit of waterborne chrysotile which could generate an alarm situation in air, corresponding to 1 fibre per Litre (f/L).Data regarding real samples and laboratory studies will be presented to shed light on mineral fibres occurrence in the water system of the study area, to describe fibres types and abundancy in relation with local geology and hydrogeology. This is to better characterize and monitor asbestos (and asbestiform) fibres occurrence in surface waters and groundwater flowing in NOA rich areas.The results of this study are expected to have high impact on regulatory aspects, particularly in the definition of a Maximum Contaminant Level for waterborne asbestos, which is not provided by Italian legislation at present.

Weathering and erosion of rocks and sediments containing Naturally Occurring Asbestos (NOA), together with run off from mine tailings deposits containing non-exploitable fibrous minerals, may result in asbestos (and other asbestiform minerals non-asbestos classified) fibres dispersion in surface waters and groundwater.Asbestos is considered highly carcinogenic to humans when is respired (Group 1 by IARC). Therefore, in the past, asbestos occurrence has been mainly monitored in air and not considered in other matrices, such as water. Nowadays, waterborne asbestos is gaining new attention since it can constitute a non-conventional exposure way. Indeed, as groundwater and surface waters resources are exploited for both agricultural and industrial activities and as a source for tap water, water contamination by asbestos could pose a risk related to possible water-to-air migration of fibres, thus being a secondary source of airborne asbestos, and to possible ingestion (particularly when present in the tap water). Therefore, asbestos could be considered as an Emerging Pollutant in water because, historically, it has not been systematically monitored in this matrix and it could actually represent a problem for human health and environment.NOA-containing rocks are widespread in Italy, such as in northwest (NW) and Central Alps and also in the Apennines. In NW area, possible diffusion of asbestos in water has been recently considered as a consequence of interactions between water and ophiolitic rocks or related sediments. Migration through water (particularly groundwater) far away from the pollution source, which has been considered negligible until recently, has gained new attention since column-based laboratory study has highlighted asbestos mobility through porous media under particular conditions, suggesting that the same could happen in the environment.Knowing this background, it is particularly important to investigate possible fibres diffusion in porous aquifers and their transport linked to aquifer characteristics, dimension and morphology of fibres, their chemical composition and surface charge.To better understand groundwater flow and fibres transport, a laboratory test has been set in collaboration with Politecnico di Torino using a packed column in which polluted water movement was forced. Several tests have been done using different material to pack the column with various granulometry and changing water characteristics, such as asbestos fibres concentration and ionic strength.Details regarding the experimental setup and first data on the tests will be presented to better define possible groundwater contamination by asbestos fibres and their movement through porous aquifers. These data will help to understand how reservoir peculiarities (geology, hydrogeology) and anthropogenic activities could influence mineral fibres presence and movement in the water system and, more generally, would help to monitor asbestos (and asbestiform) fibres transport due to water flowing in NOA rich settings or in areas where uncontrolled mine tailings deposits are present.

Monitoring and analysis of groundwater level (GWL) in space and time is one of the tools used to evaluate the quantitative status of groundwater (GW) resources and identify possible alterations and critical cases due to climate change and variability, anthropogenic influences and other driving factors. In this study, four statistical methodologies (trend, change-point, percentile and non-standardized anomaly analyses) were applied for GWL and rainfall (R) analysis in the Piedmont Plain (western Po Plain, NW Italy). To detect the interannual variations in the GW maximum annual amplitude, the coefficient of variation was also used. The aims of the study were 1) to compare the results of different statistical methods, highlighting their applicability and differences to evaluate the quantitative evolution of GW, 2) to identify the relationship between GWL and R, 3) to investigate the spatiotemporal variation in the GWL of shallow aquifers in the Piedmont Plain, and 4) to describe critical situations of GW depletion. The study highlights that the application of a single method for assessing the shallow GW resource status does not always guarantee a reliable evaluation. For this reason, it is advisable to apply different analysis methods at the same time. Completeness of data and medium to long time series are prerequisites for meaningful analyses. The use of the same time interval is always necessary for comparisons between different monitoring wells and between the results of different statistical analyses. Last, by spatializing the results, it was possible to identify areas characterized by similar GWL behaviour due to hydrological structure, climate variability, land use and the evolution of anthropogenic activities over time. These factors influence vary locally in the Piedmont plain and require local assessments to determine the impact of changes in GWL.

We very much appreciate and thank Andrea Fildani and Angela Hessler for their comment [...]

Deep aquifers typically serve as a key source of drinking water due to their good groundwater quality. Then the identification of deep aquifers recharge areas provides the local administration with a management tool to protect groundwater, through the implementation of legislative measures for the control of pollution sources. However, the location and size of recharge areas of deep aquifers are often difficult to define and generally require a large amount of data. The aim of this paper is to propose a method to identify potential recharge, throughflow and discharge areas of deep aquifers on a regional scale, due to their hydrodynamic features. As the proposed method identifies where deep-aquifer recharge can occur, but not the recharge rate, delimited areas are defined as “potential”. Particularly, the method analyses piezometric level differences between shallow and deep aquifers to understand groundwater flow direction. The areas where groundwater flow is downward are delimited as potential recharge areas of deep aquifers (PRADAs). The method represents a qualitative approach to the identification of PRADAs, because it permits to narrow down large plain areas extension, highlighting where potentially recharge areas are located. Then PRADAs location and shape can be defined effectively, expanding data sets and furthering analyses (hydrogeological reconstruction, hydraulic connectivity, hydro-chemical and isotopic methods…) in the identified areas. The hydrogeological setting investigated by this method is representative of many anthropized and groundwater-demanding plains around the world that require to be protected. Thus, the method represents a suitable approach for PRADAs’ identification in such settings, especially in low-income countries, where resource availability for studies and analyses is scarce. This method was then applied to a plain area of Northwest Italy, and the locations and sizes of potential recharge, throughflow and discharge areas of deep aquifers were identified on a regional scale.

This paper represents the first regional-scale investigation in the Piedmont Po plain about the relationship between groundwater temperature (GWT) and climate variability. The understanding of relationships between air temperature (AT) and GWT is really important, especially in the context of global climate change. The aim of this investigation is to study the relationship between GWT and AT over a 10-year time period (from 2010 to 2019) to analyse how these two parameters interrelate and to evaluate possible trends. To carry out this study, basic statistic interpolations were performed on both parameters to facilitate comparison. Both AT and GWT showed an increase over the observed decade with a more pronounced growth of the AT; this allow to state that GWT is more resilient to climate change than AT. However, some areas in the Piedmont plain showed a behaviour that partially deviated from the standard trend observe for the majority of the region. These areas were influenced by particular anthropic factors (for example the paddy fields in the Novara plain) or natural elements (as the monitoring wells in the “Canavese” area, located downstream of melting glaciers, or the wells located close to the Tanaro River). Moreover, this study wanted to stress the importance of the knowledge of the localization in wells of the instruments for the GWT measurement, to have the most accurate and comparable data. It was proved that as the depth increased, the maximum and minimum peaks of the GWT shifted in time respect to the maximum and minimum peaks of the AT, and, in addition, the GWT fluctuation in the bottom part of the aquifer was milder than the fluctuation observed in the most superficial part. Further investigations will be conducted in future in Piedmont plain areas with different behavior, in order to better understand their dynamics and the factors that may influence GWT and how they are affected by climate change.

In recent decades, the environmental aspects connected to georesources management have come to the forefront. Topics such as “Sustainability”, “Responsibility”, “Eco-compatibility” are more and more important and the path towards an environmental and social sustainability of the "wise" use of georesources, leads to a "rethink" of "our" way of producing and consuming in an intergenerational perspective, also through a deeper understanding of the ethical value of the close link between socio-economic and natural systems.The acquisition of the awareness about the necessity to move towards a more sustainable society needs a deep change of human attitude, which should involve institutions, industries and individuals. Itis fundamental to involve developed and developing countries in this new approach. A change in human attitudes starts with a proper training and education for all the subjects involved in georesource management, and in particular for students. Indeed, education for sustainable development is a strategic objective for the present and for the future of global development (UNECE, 2009). Education at all levels is the basis of the training of people able to live in current affairs with critical and conscious thinking and with a sense of legality in continuous construction (UNECE, 2011).An example based on improving capacity building for the sustainable use of georesources is SUGERE (Sustainable Sustainability and Wise Use of Geological Resources) project, whose main objectives are the international standardization of university training and teaching activities concerning Earth Sciences and Mining Engineering, and the promotion of a more responsible and sustainable use of georesources. Thanks to SUGERE project, a strong research and training networks between European and non-European universities interested in mining issues have been set up.SUGERE project aims to strengthen the role of the investigated discipline (earth sciences and mining engineering), to develop updated strategies for the sustainable management of natural resources, and to implement new collaboration thanks to an international network focused on local and social economic development in the geological/mining context. It has been elaborated a prototype proposal involving three representative African countries (Capo Verde, Angola and Mozambique) that can be replicated in other countries (African and not African). The key issue is the concept of Local Economic Development (LED) in the context of Mining/Geology combined with Environmental and Social Economic aspects.The main objective is to graduate persons that are able to oppose the "Resource Curse" that strikes countries that underperform economically, despite benefitting from valuable natural resources. Furthermore, it is expected to bring new ideas back to the European Partners. Main output of the project is the implementation of five degrees covering the three levels (BSc, MSc and PhD) whose common denominator LED is new in Geology/Mining.The culture of sustainability and the deepening of skills in the field of geomining form the basis for the development of critical thinking, which is necessary for the resolution of local problems, for the acquisition of ethical values and technical skills that underpin sustainable development.

The United Nations 2030 Agenda is a plan designed to encourage prosperity that is respectful of the planet and its inhabitants. The Agenda will help introduce the concept of education for sustainability (EfS) to a wider population in order to promote inter- and trans-disciplinary knowledge about sustainability. Connecting Earth Sciences (ES) with sustainability allows us to deal with the ethical dimensions and the social implications of this field. The belief is that improving the delivery of knowledge around sustainability issues will make visible the potential of ES education as a key component of EfS. The aim of this paper is to understand whether the young Italian ES community has sufficient knowledge of and a shared interest in, sustainability. The conviction is that awareness of these topics among the younger generations is fundamental to building a new pedagogical paradigm. This study shows the results of a survey taken by participants of BeGeo 2021, the Italian national congress dedicated to young geoscientists, held in Napoli in October 2021. The majority of respondents had limited knowledge about sustainability, and only a few had attended academic activities that included these topics. Nonetheless, the importance of sustainability is well recognized and there is a great need to increase the number of activities connected to EfS.

In arid and semi-arid areas, human health and economic development depend on water availability, which can be greatly compromised by droughts. In some cases, the presence of natural contaminants may additionally reduce the availability of good quality water. This research analyzed the water resources and hydrochemical characteristics in a rural area of the central Main Ethiopian Rift Valley, particularly in the districts of Shashemene, Arsi Negelle, and Siraro. The study was developed using a census of the main water points (springs and wells) in the area and the sampling and physico-chemical analysis of the water, with particular regard to the fluoride concentration. In many cases, fluoride content exceeded the drinking water limits set by the World Health Organization, even in the absence of anthropogenic contamination. Two different aquifers were recognized: A shallow aquifer related to the eastern escarpment and highlands, and a deep aquifer in the lowland areas of the rift valley on the basis of compositional changes from Ca&ndash, Mg/HCO3 to Na&ndash, HCO3. The distribution of fluoride, as well as pH and EC values, showed a decrease from the center of the lowlands to the eastern highlands, with similar values closely aligned along an NNE/SSW trend. All these data contribute to creating awareness among and sharing information on the risks with rural communities and local governments to support the adequate use of the available water resources and to plan appropriate interventions to increase access to fresh water, aimed at the sustainable human and rural local development of the region.

Weathering and erosion of asbestos-bearing rocks, such as meta-ophiolites (e.g. serpentinite rocks and metabasites), is the principal natural cause of asbestos water dispersion in Naturally Occurring Asbestos (NOA) rich settings. Water pollution by asbestos may occur as a consequence of superficial and groundwater flow through natural rock formations with NOA, depending on several characteristics of either the rocks (e.g. mineralogical composition, fracture grade) and hence the water (e.g. pH, speed).Given the importance of groundwater resources for both drinking water and agricultural and industrial activities, groundwater asbestos pollution represents an environmental problem and could even constitute a risk for human health. In fact, waterborne asbestos can come into contact with human beings as airborne fibres after water vaporization, or by ingestion, especially if they are present in drinking water. While a lot is known about diseases caused by airborne asbestos respiration, not enough has been yet understood about potential noxiousness of its ingestion. For this reason, the necessity to set a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for asbestos in potentially usable water is still debated.As the North-Western and Central Alps are rich in NOA and also in naturally occurring asbestiform minerals non-asbestos classified, it’s essential to understand if, how and which type of mineral fibres can eventually be released into water and to correlate them to the geolithological and hydrogeological characteristics of the area.The results of a surface water and groundwater sampling and analysis campaign, settled in the North-Western Alps, will be presented. The main aim is to investigate the principal aspects related to asbestos and asbestiform fibres presence in water, in particular their natural occurrence in groundwater, linked to hydrological and geolithological characteristics of the reservoir. Furthermore, laboratory test to study the flow of polluted water through a packed column will be designed and observations on the methodology to evaluate waterborne mineral fibres behaviour into porous media will be presented.These data are fundamental to monitor asbestos (and asbestiform) fibres transportation due to water flowing into NOA and to better understand the relationship among geology, hydrogeology and mineral fibres presence in water.

The economic activities of South Sudan (East-Central Africa) are predominantly agricultural. However, food insecurity due to low agricultural production, connected with weather conditions and lack of water infrastructure and knowledge, is a huge problem. This study reports the results of a qualitative and quantitative investigation of underground and surface water in the area of Gumbo (east of Juba town) that aims to assure sustainable water management, reducing diseases and mortality and guaranteeing access to irrigation and drinking water. The results of the study demonstrate the peculiarity of surface and groundwater and the critical aspects to take into account for the water use, particularly due to the exceeding of limits suggested by the WHO and national regulation. The outcomes provide a contribution to the scientific overview on lithostratigraphic, hydrochemical and hydrogeological setting of a less-studied area, characterized by sociopolitical instability and water scarcity. This represents a first step for the improvement of water knowledge and management, for sustainable economic development and for social progress in this African region.

Rainfall and temperature variability causes changes in groundwater recharge that can also influence groundwater quality by different processes. The aim of this study is the analysis of the hydrogeochemical variations over time due to meteorological variability in two different study areas in Italy: an alluvial aquifer in the Piedmont Po plain and an alluvial-pyroclastic aquifer in the Campanian plain. The examined plains show groundwater with natural quality not satisfying the European drinking water standards, or anthropogenic contamination. The peculiar natural quality is due, in the Campanian plain, to the closeness of volcanic areas, and to the presence of reducing conditions. In Piedmont plain a test site is characterized by a point-source contamination by heavy metals, due to the presence of past industrial activities. In all the examined areas there is a diffuse nitrate contamination. The fluctuations of the ions As, F, Fe, Mn, Cr VI, NO3, and Cl were analyzed and compared, using statistical methods, with the variations over time in precipitation, temperature, and piezometric levels, sometimes significant. Results highlight the importance of the groundwater and meteorological monitoring and the key role of the recharge variation in the hydrogeochemical processes. The linking degree between rainfall/temperature variability and hydrogeochemistry is variable, in function of the typology of chemical species, their origin, and of the aquifer characteristics. The fluctuation of climate variables determines sudden changes in the geochemistry of shallow unconfined aquifers (e.g., in the Piedmont plain), while semiconfined or confined aquifers (e.g., in the Volturno-Regi Lagni plain) react with a greater delay to these variations. Moreover, natural quality is more affected by climatic variations than anthropogenic contamination, which is the result of multiple environmental and anthropic factors.

A 3-year high-resolution monitoring of shallow subsurface temperature (unsaturated and saturated zones) was performed in the experimental site of Mezzi Po (Po River plain, NW Italy) to investigate the thermal behaviour of subsurface and the dependency with the atmospheric (air) temperature. The unsaturated zone of the test site is mainly constituted by sands and silts, and the unconfined aquifer below is hosted in coarse sediments (mainly sands and gravels) with shallow depth to water table (5 m b.g.l). The monitoring results allowed for identifying two main phenomena correlated with the propagation of the atmospheric heat through the subsurface. First, the amplitude of temperature fluctuation during the year, calculated as the difference between maximum and minimum temperature value, reduces with increasing depth, with a maximum range (31.1 °C) in air and a minimum (2.0 °C) in the saturated zone, at 7.00 m below ground level (b.g.l.). Furthermore, a lag of mean temperatures in the subsurface respect to air occurs. The delay is as much longer as the depth increases. Mainly, the time shift ranges between 1 week in the shallow soil (at 0.60 m b.g.l.) and 17 weeks in the saturated zone (7 m b.g.l.). These results are consistent with a 1-D heat diffusion model, through which the thermal subsoil properties were derived for 0.60–7 m depth interval. More specifically, thermal diffusivity is 8.12 × 10–7 m2/s, and thermal conductivity is 1.40 W/mK.

This paper aims at the systematization of knowledge related to geodiversity assessment for water resources and its evaluation within high mountain areas. In this environmental context, geological features, landforms and geomorphological processes, soils and water too are particularly sensitive to climatic and environmental changes, thus giving geodiversity a particularly dynamic character.A multidimensional (regional, local; present, past) approach was developed for analyzing components of geomorphological and hydrogeological systems, both at superficial and underground level, in order to establish a conceptual model and a specific procedure for the evaluation of geodiversity.Spatial and temporal dimensions of glaciated mountain landscapes of the Italian Western Alps (Monte Rosa, Maggiore Lake, Sesia Val Grande UNESCO Global Geopark) and the Coast Mountains of Canada (Mount Meager, Lillohet Valley, Sea-to-Sky Corridor) were mapped and interpreted by means of: 1) detailed interpretation of DEM-derived data, 2) proper selection of Geomatics survey and monitoring tools and 3) targeted application of GIS analytical methods. The selection and processing operations of the elements considered for this evaluation led to the identification of areas characterized by greater values of hydrogeodiversity. Here, the link between surface and underground hydrodynamics becomes closer and intense, thus conditioning the local landscape setting and the interactions of its natural and human components.The conceptual model and related workflow proved to be useful for both a) enhanced accuracy of models of a diversity of geomorphological and hydrogeological elements and processes of mountain regions and b) improved “targeted” knowledge on hydrogeodiversity and increased awareness on related geoheritage.The proposed GIS and Geomatics framework allowed the hydrogeodiversity assessment going well beyond the limit of classical geomorphological and hydrogeological techniques. Difficulty of quantitative analysis over large areas was overcome, and small landscape features and other “hidden” hydrogeological markers could be taken into account. The results of the research strengthened the possibility of strategic management of geological, geomorphological and hydrological heritages within the study areas. In fact, we identified different landscapes and local peculiarities determined by mutual influences between geology and hydrological dynamics and mapped their possible interaction with human activities and infrastructures within areas of enhanced climate change effects.

Increased variability in precipitation and more extreme weather events caused by climate change can lead to more extended periods of droughts and floods, which directly affects the availability of groundwater. The consequent fluctuation of the water table can also affect groundwater quality. Particularly, a higher recharge, and the resultant increase of the piezometric level, can have, as a positive result, the dilution of the contaminants in aquifers and a decrease of the concentrations. On the other side, water that infiltrates can leach pollutants that are present in the unsaturated zone, with an increase of groundwater pollution. Even, the rise of the piezometric level can have negative consequences on groundwater quality, also due to groundwater that leach the capillary fringe and the previously unsaturated zone; if a contaminant is present in these sectors, it can lead to an increase of the aquifer pollution.The increase or decrease in contaminants levels depend on a complex balance between all the described phenomena, and contaminant behaviour. This study wants to analyse the hydrogeochemical variations in time due to climate variability to define the role of different processes.Two different hydrogeological environments were chosen as test fields: an alluvial aquifer in the Piedmont Po Plain (NW Italy) and an alluvial-pyroclastic aquifer in the Campanian plain (S Italy).Piedmont Po plain shows a diffuse nitrate contamination, due to intensive agricultural and livestock activities. A nickel contamination is locally present, due to natural causes, namely the presence of basic and ultrabasic rocks debris in the supply basins, containing high amount of nickel-bearing femic minerals. Consequently, nitrate and nickel fluctuation were analysed and compared with precipitation and piezometric levels.The hydrogeochemistry of the Campanian plain is influenced by the closeness of volcanic active areas (Phlegrean Fields and Vesuvius), bringing high As and F values, and by the presence of reducing conditions, bringing high Fe and Mn values. Moreover, there is a widespread nitrate contamination, prevalently due to intensive agricultural and livestock activities. The fluctuations of these 5 ions (As, F, Fe, Mn and NO3) have been observed during almost twenty years and compared with the differences in recharge, sometimes significant due to the climate change.The monitoring and analyses of the chemical concentrations of ions of anthropogenic and natural origin in a context of climate variability represent a key element to offer a new and different research perspective in the field of groundwater chemistry.

Abandoned mine sites continue to present serious environmental hazards because the heavy metals associated with extractive waste are continuously released into the environment, where they threaten human life and the environment. Remediating and securing extractive waste are complex, lengthy and costly processes. Thus, in most European countries, a site is considered for intervention when it poses a risk to human health and the surrounding environment. As a consequence, risk analysis presents a viable decisional approach towards the management of extractive waste. To evaluate the effects posed by extractive waste to human health and groundwater, a risk analysis approach was used for an abandoned nickel extraction site in Campello Monti in North Italy. This site is located in the Southern Italian Alps. The area consists of large and voluminous mafic rocks intruded by mantle peridotite. The mining activities in this area have generated extractive waste. A risk analysis of the site was performed using Risk Based Corrective Action (RBCA) guidelines, considering the properties of extractive waste and water for the properties of environmental matrices. The results showed the presence of carcinogenic risk due to arsenic and risks to groundwater due to nickel. The results of the risk analysis form a basic understanding of the current situation at the site, which is affected by extractive waste.

Diffuse nitrate pollution in groundwater is currently considered one of the major causes of water quality degradation. Determining the sources of nitrate contamination is an important first step for a better management of water quality. Thus, the isotopic composition of nitrate (δ15NNO3 and δ18ONO3) and boron (δ11B) were used to evaluate nitrate contamination sources and to identify geochemical processes occurring in the shallow and deep aquifers of the Turin-Cuneo plain (NW Italy). The study area is essentially an agricultural zone, where use of synthetic nitrogenous fertilizers and organic manure is a common practice and the connection to sewer services is locally lacking. Also livestock farming are highly developed. A groundwater sampling campaign was performed on 34 wells in the shallow aquifer and 8 wells in the deep aquifers, to analyze nitrate, chloride, boron, δ15NNO3, δ18ONO3 and δ11B. Isotope data of nitrate indicate that nitrate contamination in the Turin-Cuneo plain originates from mixtures of synthetic and organic sources, slightly affected by denitrification, and manure or septic tank effluents. Moreover, boron isotopes were used to discriminate further among the main anthropogenic sources of pollution. The analyses results confirm that both animal manure and domestic sewage, especially under the city of Turin, can contribute to the nitrate contamination. The isotope analysis was also used for the evaluation of denitrification and nitrification processes: contrary to expectations, a significant denitrification phenomenon was assessed only in the shallow unconfined aquifer, especially in the Poirino Plateau, the most contaminated sector of the study area.

This study analyses the temperature distribution underneath the Piedmont Po Plain (NW Italy), where an important shallow aquifer exists due to fluvial and outwash deposits. A total of 118 thermal logs, for a total of 513 temperature measurements in spring 2008 and 585 in autumn 2008, were used to propose the conceptual thermal model of the vertical temperature distribution in the shallow aquifer of the western Po Plain. A constant temperature depth between 30 and 50 m below ground level was observed, under which aquifer temperatures were constant in the range 13−15 °C during the year independent of the external climatic condition. Above the constant temperature depth, the variable temperature zone, where the temperature is strongly influenced by external seasonal variations, was observed. Moreover, the collected thermometric data were processed, and the solution to the heat diffusion equation underground allowed us to determine the average distribution of temperature at different depths over time. This study provides a more detailed conceptual model of the temperature distribution in the Piedmont Po Plain. The model can be applied to other areas with similar hydrogeological characteristics (e.g., the eastern Po Plain or large plain alluvial aquifers). The paper also furnishes a description of the physical processes of heat diffusion in the shallow aquifer, as supported by statistical analysis. The proposed methodology may be adopted as a simple statistical method for the assessment of temperature values for the low-enthalpy geothermal exploitation of groundwater resources.

Water pollution by asbestos may result from anthropogenic sources, such as water passing in cement-asbestos aqueduct pipes, or natural sources. Referring to this second case, pollution could be due to the flow of superficial water or groundwater into naturally occurring asbestos (NOA) in rock formations like green stones and serpentinites.Asbestos-bearing rocks weathering is the principal natural cause of fibres water-dispersion. Despite the abundant occurrence of NOA rocks where water can flow (underground and superficially) in the North-Western part of the Alps, a few is known about the mechanism of fibres release in water and the correlation with the geolithological and hydrogeological characteristics of the area.Moreover, the knowledge on the eventual noxiousness of waterborne fibres have still to be deepened: in fact, they can come into contact with human being as airborne fibres after water vaporization, or by ingestion, especially if fibres are present in drinking water. While a lot is known about disease caused by airborne asbestos fibres high-dose respiration, not enough has been yet comprehended about potential noxiousness of fibre ingestion. Following some in vivo studies, US-EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) defined a maximum contaminant level of 7x106 ff/l in drinking water, but this limit is not fully shared by the whole scientific community.Against this background, it has become fundamental to clarify the main aspects related to waterborne fibres, in particular their natural occurrence in water and their transportation due to water flowing into NOA. Consequently, decision has been made to conduct a study on the former chrysotile mine of Balangero, in Piedmont (Italy), which was selected as a reference case study for its great significance in the North-Western Alps context. The case study was developed in collaboration with R.S.A. s.r.l., the company that is in charge of the site remediation.A sampling and analysis campaign regarding the superficial hydrographic network of the area was settled: 5 different sampling points were selected, 2 of them inside the principal site perimeter and 3 in the villages situated downstream of the site. They have been monitored for about one year, to evaluate the seasonal variability.The main aims of the research are:the evaluation of asbestos concentration in term of number of fibres per liter (ff/l); the correlation between the concentration variability and the precipitation pattern over the four seasons; the evaluation of asbestos concentration defined as mass per liter (pg/l), depending on fibres dimension; the study of fibres characteristics, such as their dimension, morphology and chemical composition; the study of a possible correlation between asbestos concentration in pg/l and ff/l; the potential presence of fibres bundles or aggregates which can constitute a problem in the evaluation of the asbestos concentration, in particular for the correlation between ff/l and pg/l. Finally, an attempt to relate the number of waterborne fibres to those that can eventually be released in air is still ongoing.

We propose a statistical approach to the study of subsoil thermal data in order to find an equation able to describe the temperature distribution in the underground of the Piedmont plain sectors (NW Italy). The analytical model here proposed, can be used during the preliminary stage of investigation for the exploitation of subsoil by means of low enthalpy geothermal plants. The statistical analysis was performed using groundwater thermometric data from thermal logs collected in boreholes crossing the Quaternary fluvial deposits hosting a shallow aquifer.

Nitrate is a worldwide pollutant in aquifers. Shallow aquifer nitrate concentrations generally display vertical stratification, with a maximum concentration immediately below the water level. The concentration then gradually decreases with depth. Different techniques can be used to highlight this stratification. The paper aims at comparing the advantages and limitations of three open hole multilevel sampling techniques (packer system, dialysis membrane samplers and bailer), chosen on the base of a literary review, to highlight a nitrate vertical stratification under the assumption of (sub)horizontal flow in the aquifer. The sampling systems were employed at three different times of the year in a shallow aquifer piezometer in northern Italy. The optimal purge time, equilibration time and water volume losses during the time in the piezometer were evaluated. Multilevel techniques highlighted a similar vertical nitrate stratification, present throughout the year. Indeed, nitrate concentrations generally decreased with depth downwards, but with significantly different levels in the sampling campaigns. Moreover, the sampling techniques produced different degrees of accuracy. More specifically, the dialysis membrane samplers provided the most accurate hydrochemical profile of the shallow aquifer and they appear to be necessary when the objective is to detect the discontinuities in the nitrate profile. Bailer and packer system showed the same nitrate profile with little differences of concentration. However, the bailer resulted much more easier to use.

The present study proposes an analytical investigation of the natural resources and social framework of the Hodh el Chargui region (Mauritania), aiming to offer a useful instrument for planning and management to the local authorities. The situation of the region was evaluated by means of a participatory survey carried out among the local inhabitants. The obtained results include a collection of data about population, territorial organization, access to basic education and health services, infrastructure, main economic activities, and natural resources (in terms of water, both surface and groundwater, duration and intensity of rainfalls, soil types, and vegetal resources). The survey outcomes were completed with an integrated approach based on Earth Observation (EO) data supports, such as digital elevation models (DEMs) and Landsat8 imagery. The interdependence among the different data was evaluated and discussed, with regard to the influence of the availability of natural resources on the development of agricultural activities and on the general social welfare. The results are organized in the form of digital maps and a user-friendly webmap platform to facilitate access for all the technical and nontechnical actors involved in the project.

Water table level monitoring and analysis are among the tools available to identify variations in the quantitative state of groundwater. Moreover, these levels highlight the response of groundwater to climate change and other global change drivers, including land use changes. In this study, water table level (37 monitoring wells) and rainfall (30 rain gauges) data analyses were performed in an alluvial unconfined aquifer in the Piedmont Plain (NW Italy) for the 2002–2017 period. The aim of this study was to identify possible trends in the time series and classify the groundwater hydrodynamic behaviours, as well as their spatial distributions and the main drivers of change in the plain. Moreover, two different sub-periods (2002–2008 and 2009–2017), which were identified with a change point analysis, were analysed to highlight possible variations in the groundwater hydrodynamic behaviours. The results of this study highlighted the lack of a trend in the rainfall time series, while a trend was detected for the water table. To explain this inconsistency, water table behaviours were analysed during the year, highlighting different groundwater hydrodynamic behaviours. Over time, the groundwater hydrodynamic behaviour generally showed the dependence of the water table level on rainfall occurrence. This correlation was also underscored by analysing the standardised anomalies of rainfall and groundwater levels. A different behaviour was observed in the paddy field areas, where the main driver of water level modification is the agricultural technique of rice cultivation. Furthermore, a reduction in the maximum water table level period was observed in 2009–2017 in this area. More specifically, the high water table period passes from 4 to 3 months, which could be the result of changes in irrigation methods. In this study, by analysing the present resource status, a first step is made to obtain future insights into flow dynamics and trends in storage.

Alpine areas, with normally fissured bedrock outcrops, do not typically contain important hydrologic reservoirs, except for small aquifers located in Quaternary sediments. By contrast, mountainous areas affected by deep-seated gravitational slope deformations (DSGSD), especially if covered by glacial sediments, contain large aquifers and are consequently promising for water exploitation. This last geological setting is observed, for example, in the lower Dora Baltea Valley (near the confluence with the Renanchio Basin) in which the Montellina Spring is located and exhibits a very high discharge. A multidisciplinary approach (detailed geological survey of the bedrock and Quaternary cover, as well as hydrogeological research based on tracer tests, hydrochemical analyses, and water balance studies) was used, allowing for a reconstruction of the geological and hydrogeological setting of the investigated area, also considering its environmental implications. The consequent hydrogeological model derives from the coexistence of some factors. In detail, the thick glacial cover, widespread in the intermediate sector of the slope, represents an important aquifer with a slow groundwater flow to the spring. The buried glacial valley floor, hosting this cover, can convey the groundwater from the high Renanchio Basin zone towards the low sector. The loosened bedrock of the low sector, consequent to DSGSD phenomena, favors the concentration of groundwater along the contact with the underlying normal fissured bedrock outcropping at the base of the slope. Finally, the flow until the spring essentially takes place through N100&deg, trend open fractures and trenches. Part of the Montellina Spring discharge is also fed by the low Renanchio Stream, as highlighted by fluorescein tests, essentially using NE-SW oriented open fractures on the bedrock. The results of the investigation on the Montellina Spring can provide some insight regarding the hydrological potential of other alpine areas with a similar geological setting.

Abandoned mines can pose serious pressure on local water sources. Analyses of the possible water related environmental problems connected to past mining activities was performed in two mining areas, Campello Monti and Gorno in NW Italy. To study impacts on local water sources water sampling campaigns and analyses were performed. The samples were analyzed to measure alkalinity, electrical conductivity, pH, chemical elements: Hg, Tl, Cd, Cr (total), Cr (VI), Ag, As, Pb, Se, Ni, Co, Mn, Al, Fe, Cu, Zn, B and other analytes: CN-, Fl-, Mg2+, Na+, SO4 2-, NO3-,Cl-.The water samples collected in Campello Monti area showed nickel contamination. The water samples collected at Gorno showed no contamination. Both Gorno and Campello Monti are two areas that were affected by intense mining activity in past. The absence of contamination in water (groundwater and rivers) in Gorno compared to Campello Monti may be due to several concomitant factors apartfrom the different geological context: in Gorno the higher pH of groundwater, which facilitates the precipitation of heavy metals and the increased flow velocity in the karst limestone rocks.

This paper aims to evaluate the presence of a trend for piezometric level and precipitation in the Piedmont plain (NW Italy). Moreover, it wants to highlight some factors that can influence the piezometric fluctuation in this area. The trend analysis of precipitation and piezometric levels of the shallow unconfined aquifer in Piedmont plain was conducted, through the analysis of time series in 37 piezometers over the last 16 years (2002-2017). The trend analyses indicated that both precipitation and about half of the piezometers show no trend. Moreover, the correlation analysis between cumulative annual rainfall and average annual piezometric level showed a strong correlation in about 25% of the piezometers. The study of hydrodynamic behaviour of groundwater table suggested that, in addition to the impact of precipitation in some areas, other factors influence the groundwater level fluctuations. The analyses of time series of piezometric level permitted to identify three main factors, besides precipitation, such as: 1) changes in surface water levels 2) groundwater withdrawal 3) irrigation.