Caratterizzazione geochimica e qualitativa delle acque della Val Chisone (TO)

The activity of this thesis has an exclusively scientific character, aimed at the qualitative characterization of water in Val Chisone, in the province of Turin, in order to understand how the lithology present in the study area conditions the chemical and physical parameters of water and its possible use for human, industrial and agricultural or livestock consumption. We started with a geographical and morphological overview of the territory, with some information on the location of the valley in the Piedmont region, geometry of the basin, municipalities and productive activities in the valley, as well as maximum and minimum altitudes and hints on the road network, and a geological overview, with information on the structure and seismicity of the study area as well as on the lithology. We continued with a climatic framework, with data on rainfall and temperatures recorded by some weather stations in the valley and with a hydrological framework, with information on the main watercourse, the T.Chisone, and its tributaries, as well as information on the flow rate of the watercourse itself. Subsequently, we dealt with the rules that regulate the use of water, in particular the parameters that define the water intended for human consumption, water intended for industrial use and water intended for agricultural and livestock use. Afterwards, experimentation, in which the values of the concentrations of the ions in solution were obtained, continued with the discussion of the results obtained from the laboratory analysis. By means of simple diagrams such as the sodium-chloride diagram it was found the coefficient that allowed to define a higher enrichment in sodium than chlorides, or with the TDS-conductivity diagram it was found the relationship between the two parameters and the differences between individual samples. Through the diagrams of Piper and Schoeller it was then possible to define the hydrochemical facies to which the individual samples belonged, highlighting a common enrichment in bicarbonate ions and in alkaline terrous ions. Subsequently, we moved on to the localization of the sampling points on the geological map, in order to contextualize the differences obtained in the various samples to the lithological context of the area: samples taken in outcrop areas of calcareous rock showed higher concentrations of calcium and magnesium ions, while samples taken on crystalline rocks showed higher values of sodium and potassium, as well as a lower conductivity. Finally, the possible use of the sampled waters for human, industrial, agricultural or livestock consumption was discussed. It was seen that the sampled waters are usable for all the purposes mentioned, with the exception of some particular uses such as paper and yarn processing, which require waters with very low hardness.