WATER MANAGEMENT OF THE CLASSICAL KARST AQUIFER (NE ITALY, SW SLOVENIA)

Classical Karst is a broad area located between the north-eastern Italian sector and the south-western Slovenian side. The area is about 40 km long and 15 wide (SE-NW direction) bounded by the Isonzo/Soča and Vipacco/Vipava rivers, by the Pivka River basin, Cicarija structure and the Gulf of Trieste. The plateau, slightly inclined towards NW, consists of limestone lithotypes deeply karstified. Rainfall and surface waters are immediately swallowed by the karst bedrock, where a network of caves is developed, transferring vertically the waters through the epikarst and vadose zone and collecting them in the aquifer characterized by large horizontal or sub-horizontal conduits quickly transporting the waters to the spring’s area. Data analysis obtained from Classical Karst groundwater monitoring networks highlights the complexity of the hydrostructure. In this framework, the Hydrokarst Project (Italy-Slovenia’s transboundary cooperation program 2007-2013), is focused on the joint protection and management of the transboundary aquifer through quantitative and qualitative monitoring. One of Hydrokarst’s outputs is the shared GeoDatabase collecting all the available and newly obtained geological, hydrological, hydrodynamic, geochemical and biological data. Unified maps as the Integrated Vulnerability Map obtained from the collected, validated and analyzed data are the common base to prepare cooperation agreements able to promote and implement action focused on the protection areas identification and realization. This common vision implements strategies able to prevent and/or reduce risks in emergencies. In this framework, also the support to the water consumption’s reduction as the efficiency of the water network management and the improvement of drinking water quality, guarantee, to the future generations, an abundance of good quality waters.