Understanding the impacts of overexploitation on the Salento aquifer: A Comprehensive review through well data analysis

The Salento aquifer located in the Salento Peninsula in Southern Italy plays a vital role in supporting various sectors like agriculture, economy, and tourism. However, the aquifer has faced escalating challenges from rising water abstraction, falling piezometric levels, and saltwater intrusion for decades. This comprehensive review identifies the varied drivers of increased water abstraction like intensified agricultural activities and expanding tourism, through well data analysis, geological and hydrogeological studies, alongside evaluations of land use patterns, water consumption trends, and meteorological records. The study compares the findings of previous research, which have consistently shown a downward trend in the piezometric levels of the aquifer over several decades, confirming that this decline persists to the present day. The analysis of new and historical well data is combined with existing studies to explore the complex interactions between climate change and human impacts on the aquifer, providing general recommendations for sustainable aquifer management.