Drought and discharge effects on groundwater availability of a wide semiarid region: the case of Apulian region (Southern Italy)

The Apulian region is characterized by very low availability of surface water resources due to the its widespread karstic nature. Considerable groundwater resources are located in large carbonate coastal aquifers. Groundwater for domestic, irrigation and industrial use has been withdrawn in large and increasing quantities over the years, it still allows the development of local population. Groundwater is affected by two types of degradation risks: quality and quantity degradation. Starting by the analysis of long hydrological time series, the dramatic decreasing trend of groundwater availability is characterised and the negative effect in terms of groundwater quality is highlighted.