Regional hydrogeology for groundwater resource management policies. The Latium volcanic domain (central Italy)

Growing urban areas in the Latium volcanic domain has resulted in the increase of water demand. The uncontrolled increase in water withdrawals cause an inexorable reduction of springs discharges and progressive drawdown of groundwater levels. This emergency needs an urgent rationalization of groundwater management thorough understanding of qualitative and quantitative features of the aquifers. The main aim of this paper is to emphasize the importance of the method of study and the results obtained by researchers belonging to the Laboratory of Quantitative Hydrogeology (University of Roma Tre) to support the use and protection of groundwater resources. Therefore, we propose a summary of methods applied in previous hydrogeology studies that have contributed to legislation on groundwater resources management in the volcanic aquifers. The study area corresponds to the Latium volcanic domain and covers approximately 6500 km2. About 3000 stratigraphic data and about 2600 water points have been collected in order to set up a conceptual hydrogeological model. The conceptual model has been validated by the resolution of the hydrological budget. Detailed evaluation of the water supply is essential for the correct setting of the hydrological budget, in fact it represents the main output of the budget. These analysis highlight the condition of the resource. Critical areas have been identified for reshaping of water supply in order to increase environmental remediation and economic development.