Classification and hydro-geochemistry of karst springs along the southern coast of Albania

The southern Albania coast, about 147 km long, represents one of the fastest growing areas of the country for tourism and local economy, resulting in serious problems concerning water supply. Due the karst nature of the territory, groundwater is the only remaining promising resource. The aim of this research is to describe the main characteristics and influencing factors on karst groundwater quantity and quality and the drainage type in the study area. In general, the area is very rich in groundwater resources; the estimated total renewable karst water resources being about 20 m3/s. Based on the different geological-structural conditions and the development of karst processes, their drainage occurs in different ways. Five main types of drainage can be distinguished along the Southern Albanian coast: (a) overflowing springs, (b) descending springs, (c) coastal springs, (d) submarine spring, and (e) diffuse drainage. Regarding water quality, only the overflowing springs have a good quality, due to the presence of impervious rocks isolating freshwater from the sea water. Good-quality springs represent 28% of the total discharge of karst water resources drained to the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. In addition, the situation becomes more difficult, because about 83% of the fresh quality karst water resources drain along a 1.5 km-long coastal strip located in the northernmost sector of the studied area. Beside this, the strong increase in population, particularly during the summer due tourism activities, as well as construction of new urban areas, are the main sources of likely pollution for some of the good-quality springs. The high anthropic pressure on groundwater resources increases the seawater intrusion phenomena, reducing the availability of freshwater resource and in specific areas, contributing to spring salinization.