ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY PROBLEMS IN THE TYRRHENIAN COASTAL AREA OF SANTA-MARINELLA, PROVINCE OF ROME, CENTRAL ITALY

The Tyrrhenian resort of S. Marinella (central Italy) is subjected to significant anthropogenic pressures during the summer vacation period, a common situation all along the Italian coast. Located 65 km NW of R ome on the southern slopes of the Tolfa Mountains, S. Marinella is bui lt on a gently sloping, E-W trending belt which is cut by 14 N-S orien ted ephemeral streams that discharge into the Tyrrhenian Sea. The low to medium permeability turbiditic sandstones which outcrop along this belt belong to the Late Cretaceous Pietraforte unit. Three environment al problems are addressed in this study. The first problem is related to the high water supply demand during the summer months which has for ced local residents to dig a large number of wells. Extensive pumping from these wells has caused salt-water intrusion into the Pietraforte, thus compromising the domestic use of the groundwater. The second pro blem consists of the illegal dumping of urban solid waste, material th at represents a hazard during significant rain events as well as a pos sible cause of groundwater contamination. The final issue addressed co ncerns the flooding potential of the 14 ephemeral streams that cross t he inhabited area of S. Marinella, a risk which is highlighted by the disastrous flood which occurred on 2 October 1981 and during the perio d of the Roman Emperor Settimio Severe (205 A.D.). Some suggestions ar e proposed to mitigate and contain the effects of these problems.