Natural and anthropogenic factors affecting groundwater quality of an active volcano (Mt. Etna,Italy) |
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| Institution: | 1. Dipartimento CFTA, Università di Palermo, via Archirafi 36, 90123 Palermo, Italy;2. Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione di Palermo, via La Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy;1. Dr., Department of Applied Geology, Western Australian School of Mines, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, WA, Australia;2. Dr., Department of Applied Geology, Western Australian School of Mines, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, WA, Australia;3. Dr., Department of Applied Geology, Western Australian School of Mines, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, WA, Australia;1. Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Department of Energy Engineering, Budapest, Hungary;2. Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Budapest, Hungary;1. U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, Hawaii National Park, HI 96718, USA;2. U.S. Geological Survey California Volcano Observatory, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA;3. U.S. Geological Survey Cascades Volcano Observatory, Vancouver, WA 98683, USA |
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| Abstract: | New geochemical data on dissolved major and minor constituents in 276 groundwater samples from Etna aquifers reveal the main processes responsible for their geochemical evolution and mineralisation. This topic is of particular interest in the light of the progressive depletion of water resources and groundwater quality in the area. Multivariate statistical analysis reveal 3 sources of solutes: (a) the leaching of the host basalt, driven by the dissolution of magma-derived CO2; (b) mixing processes with saline brines rising from the sedimentary basement below Etna; (c) contamination from agricultural and urban wastewaters. The last process, highlighted by increased concentrations of SO4, NO3, Ca, F and PO4, is more pronounced on the lower slopes of the volcanic edifice, associated with areas of high population and intensive agriculture. However, this study demonstrates that natural processes (a) and (b) are also very effective in producing highly mineralised waters, which in turn results in many constituents (B, V, Mg) exceeding maximum admissible concentrations for drinking water. |
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