Microbiological and hydrogeological assessment of groundwater in southern Italy

• Published in: Environmental monitoring and assessment Vol. 188; no. 11; p. 638
• Main Authors: De Giglio, Osvalda, Barbuti, Giovanna, Trerotoli, Paolo, Brigida, Silvia, Calabrese, Angelantonio, Di Vittorio, Giuseppe, Lovero, Grazia, Caggiano, Giuseppina, Uricchio, Vito Felice, Montagna, Maria Teresa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.11.2016; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aquifers; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Bacteria - isolation & purification; Contamination; Drinking water; Drinking Water - microbiology; E coli; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Management; Environmental monitoring; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Environmental protection; Fecal coliforms; Feces; Feces - microbiology; Geology; Groundwater; Groundwater - microbiology; Groundwater pollution; Hydrogeology; Italy; Karst; Microorganisms; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Permeability; Porosity; Regression analysis; Salmonella; Seasons; Sewage disposal; Studies; Water analysis; Water Pollutants - isolation & purification; Water sampling; Water wells; Italy; Fecal contamination; Drinking water; Italy; Apulia; Groundwater; Microbiological pollution
• ISSN: 0167-6369; 1573-2959
• DOI: 10.1007/s10661-016-5655-y

This study represents the first investigation of microbiological groundwater pollution as a function of aquifer type and season for the Apulia region of southern Italy. Two hundred and seven wells were randomly selected from those monitored by the Regional Agency for Environmental Protection for emergency use. Both compulsory ( Escherichia coli , Total Coliform, and Enterococci) and optional ( Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Salmonella spp., Heterotrophic Plate Count at 37 and 22 °C) microbiological parameters were assessed regularly at these wells. Groundwater from only 18 of the 207 (8.7 %) wells was potable; these all draw from karst-fissured aquifers. The remaining 189 wells draw from karst-fissured (66.1 %) or porous (33.9 %) aquifers. Of these, 82 (43.4 %) tested negative for Salmonella spp. and P. aeruginosa , while 107 (56.6 %) tested positive for P. aeruginosa (75.7 %), Salmonella spp. (10.3 %), or for both Salmonella spp. and P. aeruginosa (14 %). A logistic regression model shows that the probability of potable groundwater depends on both season and aquifer type. Typically, water samples were more likely to be potable in autumn-winter than in spring-summer periods (odds ratio, OR = 2.1; 95 % confidence interval, 95 % CI = 1.6–2.7) and from karst-fissured rather than porous aquifers (OR = 5.8; 95 % CI = 4.4–7.8). Optional parameters only showed a seasonal pattern (OR = 2.6; 95 % CI = 1.7–3.9). Clearly, further investigation of groundwater microbiological aspects should be carried out to identify the risks of fecal contamination and to establish appropriate protection methods, which take into account the hydrogeological and climatic characteristics of this region.