Multi-aquifer susceptibility analyses for supporting groundwater management in urban areas

In the densely urbanised Milan Metropolitan area (northern Italy), long history of anthropogenic activities still exerts a significant pressure on groundwater resource. One most serious threats to water quality urban aquifers is attributed diffuse contamination, which caused by series unknown small sources (i.e., multiple point sources) distributed over large areas. study and in many industrialised regions world, tetrachloroethylene [PCE], trichloroethylene [TCE] hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] represent common example long-standing persistent pollution groundwater. area, high levels PCE + TCE Cr(VI) were detected shallow aquifer as well deep aquifer. To assess map susceptibility contamination at regional scale, Weights Evidence modelling technique has been applied. This method used objectively evaluate spatial correlation between presence these pollutants each hydrogeological land use factors that can potentially influence contamination. Moreover, results allowed us quantify scale effect preferential flowpaths, due both thickness variation aquitard areal density multi wells, have reducing protection underlying The end-products constitute key tool be water-resource managers decision-makers for improvement management strategies.