A.S.A.P. - Actions for Systemic Aquifer Protection - LIFE06/ENV/IT/000255

The A.S.A.P. (LIFE06/ENV/IT/000255) Project (2006-2009) was partially funded by the European Union LIFE Programme (Decision LIFE06-ENV-IT-000255) and involved the hydrological district of Pontedera (Pisa, Tuscany, IT) facing a serious and pressing environmental problem – the Bientina aquifer crisis.

The demand of drinkable water is increasing. In order to satisfy this demand, more and more water is pumped and consequently the water level of many abstracting areas is lowering. When recharging capacity is exceeded, the resource is being overexploited. If demand is also highly variable and the supply networks are uneven, the probability of pipe pailures increases, as well as water leakage and abstraction. In these cases, preventive rehabilitation is of no help unless the dynamic efficiency of the supply net is improved. Often financial resources for major maintenance works on the supply net or for its refurbishment are not available: frequently investments are barely enough to ensure corrective maintenance of infrastructures. Pumping, water sanitation and partial distribution of water improperly abstracted, along with the amount of repairs and maintenance needed, increase the burden of environmental costs. .

The A.S.A.P. Project aimed to concentrate the investments in an effective action plan in order to cut-down leakages and to reduce water abstraction. The idea is to have dynamic flow/pressure regulation based on a reliable model of the supply networkwhich allows to focus on early detection and remediation of leakages, ensuring also better response to demand fluctuations or displacements maintaining abstraction at minimum . Diminishing pumping needs together with a valid aquifer model allows to allocate scarce water resources at best. In fact appropriate reduction of abstraction intensity allows to increase piezometric pressures thus driving aquifers to regain recharge equilibrium. Moreover the rise of piezometric pressure is accompanied by diminished diffusivity, hence reducing the risk of accidentally induced infiltration or intrusion (e.g., salted water) that potentially exposes groundwater to pollution. .

The A.S.A.P. Project implementation allowed to draw up a Protocol and guidelines for protecting aquifers, cutting down abstractions , optimize water supply systems in real conditions. The A.S.A.P. demonstration site is available for understanding how these achievements may be replicated.

The A.S.A.P. project  was implemented by Acque SpA (IT) and its partners Acque Ingegneria Srl (IT), Fundaciòn Instituto Tecnològico de Galicia (ES) and Provincia di Pisa (IT).