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. 2016 Nov;188(11):638.
doi: 10.1007/s10661-016-5655-y. Epub 2016 Oct 25.

Microbiological and hydrogeological assessment of groundwater in southern Italy

Osvalda De Giglio  1 , Giovanna Barbuti  1 , Paolo Trerotoli  1 , Silvia Brigida  2 , Angelantonio Calabrese  2 , Giuseppe Di Vittorio  3 , Grazia Lovero  1 , Giuseppina Caggiano  1 , Vito Felice Uricchio  2 , Maria Teresa Montagna  4
Affiliations

Microbiological and hydrogeological assessment of groundwater in southern Italy

Osvalda De Giglio et al. Environ Monit Assess. 2016 Nov.

Abstract

This study represents the first investigation of microbiological groundwater pollution as a function of aquifer type and season for the Apulia region of southern Italy. Two hundred and seven wells were randomly selected from those monitored by the Regional Agency for Environmental Protection for emergency use. Both compulsory (Escherichia coli, Total Coliform, and Enterococci) and optional (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella spp., Heterotrophic Plate Count at 37 and 22 °C) microbiological parameters were assessed regularly at these wells. Groundwater from only 18 of the 207 (8.7 %) wells was potable; these all draw from karst-fissured aquifers. The remaining 189 wells draw from karst-fissured (66.1 %) or porous (33.9 %) aquifers. Of these, 82 (43.4 %) tested negative for Salmonella spp. and P. aeruginosa, while 107 (56.6 %) tested positive for P. aeruginosa (75.7 %), Salmonella spp. (10.3 %), or for both Salmonella spp. and P. aeruginosa (14 %). A logistic regression model shows that the probability of potable groundwater depends on both season and aquifer type. Typically, water samples were more likely to be potable in autumn-winter than in spring-summer periods (odds ratio, OR = 2.1; 95 % confidence interval, 95 % CI = 1.6-2.7) and from karst-fissured rather than porous aquifers (OR = 5.8; 95 % CI = 4.4-7.8). Optional parameters only showed a seasonal pattern (OR = 2.6; 95 % CI = 1.7-3.9). Clearly, further investigation of groundwater microbiological aspects should be carried out to identify the risks of fecal contamination and to establish appropriate protection methods, which take into account the hydrogeological and climatic characteristics of this region.

Keywords: Apulia; Drinking water; Fecal contamination; Groundwater; Italy; Microbiological pollution.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Distribution of aquifers in Apulia, southern Italy [from the Geological Survey of Italy]
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Distribution of monitored wells in Apulia, southern Italy
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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