Groundwater Vulnerability Assessment in the Metaponto Coastal Plain (Basilicata, Italy)

This study aims at a groundwater vulnerability assessment of the Metaponto coastal plain, located in Basilicata region (southern Italy). In last century, intensive agriculture, zootechnical and industrial activities have significantly changed plain. These changes led to negative impacts on hydrogeological system intensifying risk aquifer pollution. The paper presents intrinsic carried out by GIS-based application SINTACS method. It considers several parameters such as water table depth, effective infiltration, unsaturated conditions, soil media, hydraulic conductivity topography. Furthermore, anthropogenic influence area was considered applying SINTACS-LU method, which parameter land use (LU) added. indexes were provided summing product ratings weights assigned each parameter. analysis map allowed for determining three classes ranging from low high vulnerability. both cases, southeastern part closest sea, shows highest class, indicating that it is most vulnerable contamination due factors. wide central moderate class scattered small parts northern portion represents areas less contaminable space time case potential map, some classified highly method show minor class. are localized natural wooded sectors populated, where human impact minimal.