Hydrogeology of continental southern Italy

This paper summarizes the results of a study focused on the hydrogeological characterization and recognition of groundwater resources in continental southern Italy, developed under the European INTERREG IIC Programme. The study reconstructed up-to-date scientific knowledge regarding aquifers, groundwater circulation schemes and groundwater resources exploitation in the administrative regions of southern Italy included in the Objective I (Molise, Campania, Basilicata, Puglia and Calabria). In this paper, the methodological approaches applied to synthesize and homogenize bibliographic data collected from the hydrogeological literature and to set a regional hydrogeological mapping are described. Results presented are three hydrogeological maps, 1:300,000 scale, showing hydrogeological units and groundwater flow schemes that are relevant in the regional hydrogeological context, and a brief description of principal types of aquifer and groundwater resources of continental southern Italy.