Water springs quality mapping using GIS: A study of the Crati river basin in Calabria (southern Italy)

Groundwater represents a natural resource of great socio-economic importance for the entire southern Italy, where populations use it for both irrigation and drinking purposes. Knowledge of the complex hydrogeological environment, of the chemical composition of waters and of the interpretation of geochemical maps allows the definition of flow domain, groundwater quality and degradation processes affecting the aquifers. The present paper offers a large qualitative assessment of water springs, in the Crati river basin (Calabria region, southern Italy), characterized by a large area and a complex lithology. In particular, about 200 samples of water springs, falling within the Crati river basin were collected and analysed in order to evaluate physical and chemical parameters.