B4796 - IDROGEOLOGIA APPLICATA E INQUINAMENTO DEGLI ACQUIFERI

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student is able to comprehend the principles and concepts about: the role of groundwater inside the framework of hydrologic cycle at the watershed scale; the parameterization of hydrogeological units; the tools of characterization of groundwater flow systems. The student is also able to comprehend the processes of man derived contamination of groundwater, the mechanisms of migration of contaminants through the porous medium and hydrogeological approaches for the protection, characterization, risk assessment and remediation of contaminated aquifers. The student is able to: -learn the implications for the design of groundwater sustainable exploitation measures, protection and remediation of the aquifers with application case studies relative to local settings (Po plain, Northern Apennine); -apply hydrogeological prospecting tools and techniques of field groundwater sampling and monitoring, either for natural or contaminated settings. One credit will be devoted to field laboratory activity with practical training.

Course contents

The course is divided in two modules. Module 1 is held by Alessandro Gargini, module 2 is held by Maria Filippini

MODULE 1: RATIONALE AND PRINCIPLES

1. HYDROGEOLOGICAL SURVEY IN WELLS AND BOREHOLES

1. Wells: designing and drilling.
2. Well hydraulics 1: Non Equilibrium methods. Equilibrium method. Step discharge test. In situ borehole permeability tests

2. HYDROGEOLOGICAL SURVEY IN SPRINGS AND STREAMS

1. Uptake of springs. Discharge measuring in springs and streams.
2. Discharge: Analysis of the spring hydrograph. Hydrologic recession. Evaluation of groundwater resources discharging to the spring outlet.
3. Tracers and tracer tests in hydrogeology
   

3. EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT OF GROUNDWATER RESOURCES

1. Estimation of recharge. Groundwater budget and budget components.
2. Overdrafting of aquifers. Managing aquifer recharge. Integrated use of water resources.
3. Effects on groundwater of Climate Change and Global Change

4.CONTAMINANT HYDROGEOLOGY

1. Groups and properties of contaminants. Transport of contaminants. Spring and Well Protection Zones
2. Legislation on contaminated sites. Characterization and remediation of contaminated sites
   

MODULE 2: TOOLS AND APPLICATIONS

1. HYDROGEOLOGICAL SURVEY IN WELLS AND BOREHOLES

1. Tools for hydrogeological monitoring in wells and piezometers.
2. Exercises: analysis and interpretation of borehole tests (slug tests).

2. HYDROGEOLOGICAL SURVEY IN SPRINGS AND STREAMS

1. Tools for discharge gauging of springs and streams.
2. Exercises: quantification of discharge from current-meter and tracer data; analysis of recession curve.

3. EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT OF GROUNDWATER RESOURCES

1. Overview on the interpolation of hydrogeological point data.
2. Exercises: interpolation of hydrogeological parameters; head contour mapping; groundwater budgeting.

Readings/Bibliography

Lessons of the teachers downloadable from the university web site https://iol.unibo.it/ .

The material will be available the day preceding the lesson.

As an integrating tool of the lessons, in particular for students not able to guarantee the presence in class, following text books are recommended:

M.Civita "Idrogeologia applicata ed ambientale", Ambrosiana, 2005

G.Pranzini "Le acque sotterranee", Pitagora Editrice, Bologna

Freeze & Cherry - Groundwater. Fully translated in Italian at the following link:

http://hydrogeologistswithoutborders.org/wordpress/1979-italiano/

C.W.Fetter-T.Boving-D.Kreamer "Contaminant Hydrogeology" Waveland Press

Teaching methods

Theoretycal lessons in classroom and computer-aided exercises in classroom by PC provided by students. Module 1 is related to theory, Module 2 both to theory and exercises

The attendance of the student to the lesson is not compulsory but strongly recommended

On field excursions to sites of hydrogeological interest near Bologna will be organized during the course

At the end of the course a 3-4 days laboratory on the field will be held. The students will conduct, organized in groups, hydrogeological tests and will collect data useful for the final reporting of the lab activity

As concerns the teaching methods of this course unit, all students must attend Module 1, 2 [https://www.unibo.it/en/services-and-opportunities/health-and-assistance/health-and-safety/online-course-on-health-and-safety-in-study-and-internship-areas] online, while Module 3 on health and safety is to be attended in class. Information about Module 3 attendance schedule is available on the website of your degree programme”

Assessment methods

The exam is based upon a practical and an oral trial.

Practical exam could be performed, according the choice of the student, according one of the following two options: a) write a report with analysis and interpretation of hydrogeological data collected on the field during the outdoor laboratory activity at the end of the course (the report is produced by a group of students, so the votation will be the same among the components of the group); b) practical exercise at the computer by interpretation of hydrogeological data provided by the teacher.

Practical exam is evaluated according the following grades of judgment: Optimal-Good-Fair-Poor-Bad. With a judgment of “bad” there is no the admission to the oral examination and the practical trial must be repeated; in all other cases there is the admission to the oral examination.

Oral examination, in front of the teachers, is evaluated with a vote expressed in fraction of 30. Depending on the judgment of the practical trial the highest votation potentially achievable in the oral test is as follows: Optimal-30/30 cum laude; Good-30/30; Fair-27/30; Poor-25/30.

If the student chooses the option "b" for the practical exam it is possible to try again only once the exam in the case of not accepted votation. The oral could be taken also in a later session respect to the practical test

Teaching tools

Videoprojector, PC, blackboard, demonstration of the use of instruments (in the lab and on the field), PC provided by students with use of freeware dedicated software for exercises

Office hours

See the website of Alessandro Gargini

See the website of Maria Filippini