Hydrogeology of Galese spring, Mar Piccolo of Taranto (South Italy)

The basin of the Mar Piccolo represents one of the areas of greatest hydrogeological interest in the region of Apulia. Situated between two large hydrogeological units (Murge and Salento), the basin is characterized by the presence of numerous submarine and subaerial springs (locally known as "c i t r i") . This paper first outlines the structural features of the area examined and it is pointed out that tectonic phenomena have played a major role in the hydrogeological evolution of the zone and also in conditioning the flow-paths of the underground waters into the sea. The second part of the paper is particularly concerned with the GaLese spring which, with a discharge of 500 l/s, represents the largest subaerial spring in the Mar Piccolo basin. The surveys carried out, as well as defining the hydrogeological and chemical-parameters of the spring, have highlighted the hydrodynamic and hydrochemical influence exerted by the sea on the karstic groundwater and also its influence on the evolution of phenomena of marine intrusion Lastly, the connections that have emerged between the Galese spring and the Garese "citro. have proved to be of particurar interest.