Titre du document / Document title
The limestone aquifers of Malta: Their recharge conditions from isotope and chemical surveys
Auteur(s) / Author(s)
BAKALOWICZ Michel (1) ;
MANGION John (2) ;
Affiliation(s) du ou des auteurs / Author(s) Affiliation(s)
(1) Hydrosciences, Université Montpellier II, cc MSE, 34095 Montpellier, FRANCE
(2) Water Resources Directorate. Molta Resources Authority, Millenia, Aldo Moro Road, Marsa LQA06, MALTE
Résumé / Abstract
The potable water supply in Malta is heavily dependent on groundwater. The two main aquifers, the Perched Aquifer and the Mean Sea Level Aquifer (MSLA), are vertically stacked and separated by impermeable formations. Groundwater is now being threatened by over-pumping and pollution. An isotope and chemical survey was undertaken on rain and groundwater to identify the recharge conditions and set new strategies for exploiting and protecting groundwater. The main results show that: (a) an elevation effect does not appear in rainwater δ
18O, so that groundwater cannot be distinguished in either of the aquifers by means of stable isotopes, and (b) groundwater tritium content shows an old recharge of MSLA and a very long residence time. Tritium results look inconsistent with other data, suggesting a present day recharge split into two components: a rapid portion through fractures, and a slow portion through rock porosity which is dominant.
Revue / Journal Title
IAHS-AISH publication
ISSN
0144-7815
CODEN IAPUEP
Source / Source
Congrès
Hydrology of Mediterranean and semiarid regions :
(
Montpellier, 1-4 April 2003
)
International conference on hydrology of the Mediterranean and semi-arid regions, Montpellier
, FRANCE
(01/04/2003)
2003
, n
o 278, pp. 49-54[Note(s) : XIII, 498 p., ] [Document : 6 p.] (5 ref.)
ISBN 1-901502-12-0 ;
Illustration : Illustration
;
Langue / Language
Anglais
Editeur / Publisher
International Association of Hydrological Sciences, Wallingford, ROYAUME-UNI
(1973)
(Revue)
IAHS Press, Wallingford, ROYAUME-UNI
(2003)
(Monographie)
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Localisation / Location
INIST-CNRS, Cote INIST : 8967, 35400011735686.0080
Nº notice refdoc (ud4) : 15735064
