Abstract
Groundwater from piedmont aquifers in the Po Plain is a key resource for drinking water supply, yet the relative contribution of different recharge sources—Mountain-Block Recharge (MBR), surface Mountain-Front Recharge (sMFR), and Local Precipitation (LP)—remains largely unquantified. The AMBRA project aims to fill this critical knowledge gap through a basin-focused approach applied to two representative pilot areas: one in the Alpine foothills (Brescia) and the other along the Apennine alluvial fans (Bologna). These areas differ in geology, hydrology, and anthropogenic pressures. The project combines stable isotopes (δ²H, δ¹⁸O) and novel chemical tracers (Cl/Br, B, EC) in Bayesian endmember mixing models (MixSIAR) to determine recharge source proportions at individual well locations. A one-year field campaign yielded 188 samples from wells, springs, streams, and rainfall collectors for the mixing analysis. These data were complemented by stream-aquifer flow measurements using ADCP and ADV technologies, allowing for empirical validation of recharge estimates. Results include the quantification of recharge source proportions for each monitored well and the identification of recharge typologies linked to geological or geomorphological settings. These findings will enable extrapolation to other areas of the Po Plain with similar characteristics. By providing robust, transferable methodologies and original datasets, AMBRA advances fundamental hydrogeological knowledge and equips stakeholders with tools to evaluate and manage groundwater sustainability under ongoing climate change and anthropogenic pressure.
Project details
Unibo Team Leader: Maria Filippini
Unibo involved Department/s:
Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali
Coordinator:
Università degli Studi di MILANO-BICOCCA(Italy)
Total Unibo Contribution: Euro (EUR) 68.800,00
Project Duration in months: 24
Start Date:
28/09/2023
End Date:
28/02/2026
