Assessing the correlation of soil properties and groundwater quality in coastal aquifers

A qualitative approach was adopted to assess the impact of soil mineralogy on the quality of groundwater in a coastal aquifer. This approach incorporates chemical and physicochemical data from soil and groundwater, as well as multivariate statistical analysis. Concurrent investigations of the soil and groundwater were employed to ensure consistent and comparable data, providing a comprehensive understanding of the interactions between soil properties and groundwater quality. Metal pollution was monitored in both the soil and the water at a highly contaminated Site of National Interest in southern Italy. Using a combined approach provided valuable insights into the interrelated factors influencing metal mobility from soil to water, including soil pH, texture, and organic matter. PCA (principal component analysis) and PLS (partial least squares) multivariate techniques identified the different reactivity of metals and supported the identification of the predominant controlling factors (soil textural features, pH, and total organic content). However, further research is needed to fully understand the complex nature of soilgroundwater interactions.