Conceptual and numerical model of groundwater flow for a coastal plain (Piana di Sibari, Southern Italy)

The large Sibari Plain (southern Italy) is crossed by 24 rivers with mouths on the Ionian Sea. On the basis of a huge analysis of tens of boring, geophysical studies and many hydrogeological surveying campaigns, the conceptual model of the whole plain is defined. The shallow and phreatic aquifer and the deep and confined aquifer can be distinguished. The numerical model of flow is calibrated considering climatic, river yield and piezometric data and it is utilised to evaluate the effect of current groundwater discharge by wells. The numerical results are compared and validated considering a time series approach based on the utilisation rainfall, temperature and piezometric data collected from the thirties until 2006 in-situ measurements. The numerical simulation of the current stage of groundwater discharge shows it is not sustainable in the case of shallow aquifer and it can be improved in the case of deep aquifer.