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 entirely taught by Alessandro Gargini.

It is divided in two modules of lessons or exercises in classroom and one module of laboratory on the field.

MODULE 1:APPLIED HYDROGEOLOGY

FIRST PART: HYDROGEOLOGICAL TESTING

1. HYDROGEOLOGICAL SURVEY IN WELLS AND BOREHOLES

1. Wells: designing and drilling. Tools for hydrogeological monitoring in wells and piezometers.
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.Tools for discharge gauging of 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

SECOND PART: EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT OF GROUNDWATER RESOURCES

3.GROUNDWATER BUDGET

1. Budget equation and its components. Estimation of recharge. Estimation of discharge.
2. Overdrafting of aquifers. Managing aquifer recharge. Integrated use of water resources.
3. Effects on groundwater  and Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems of Climate Change and Global Change

MODULE 2: CONTAMINANT HYDROGEOLOGY

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

EXERCISES IN CLASSROOM

Analysis and interpretation of pumping tests.

Quantification of discharge from current-meter and tracer data; analysis of recession curve.

Interpolation of hydrogeological parameters; head contour mapping.

LABORATORY ON THE FIELD

Practical applications on wells, boreholes, springs, streams of testing techniques described in classroom

Readings/Bibliography

Slides uploaded by the teacher on the university web site https://iol.unibo.it/ at least one day before any lesson.

Slides provided by the teacher and notes taken up by the students in class are enough for a thorough preparation of the exam.

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

All lessons and exercises will be held by Alessandro Gargini. Students will follow the exercises in classroom by personal PC provided by students.

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 few 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”

IMPORTANT: The attendance by the students to the activity on the field could imply that the students should sustain by their own the costs of accomodation and food in case of permanence on field for more than one day. In case of one day activity transportation costs toward the sites could be in charge to students. 

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  (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 teacher, 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

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the teacher, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

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 or freeware softwares for exercises

Office hours

See the website of Alessandro Gargini