Assessing Background Values of Regulated Parameters in Groundwater Bodies of Sardinia (Italy)

The groundwater bodies in the European Union should be classified on the basis of their chemical status according to the European regulations. To this purpose, the background values for electrical conductivity, chloride, sulfate, fluoride and lead in groundwater bodies hosted in carbonatic rocks in Sardinia (Italy) were estimated. Background values were dependent on geological (lithology and mineralization) and geographical (distance from the coast) features of aquifers. Results indicate that statistical methods should be integrated with hydrogeochemical investigations for a correct assessment of the background values.