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ABSTRACTThis paper describes the spatial and temporal variability of the hydrogeochemistry of shallow aquifer in the western Po Plains, located in Piedmont (northwestern Italy), using groundwater monitoring network data for the main chemical–physical parameters. Hydrochemical maps for the 2015–2020 period were created to identify the main natural and anthropogenic factors responsible for the remarkable spatial variability. Temporal variations in the 2000–2020 period were defined to show the existence of variabilities that were previously not investigated. The spatial and temporal elaborations show significant and various variabilities. The hydrochemical maps confirm the existence of several natural and anthropogenic factors, including the lithological compositions of aquifers, agricultural practices and pressure from urban centres. The temporal variations suggest different resilience capacities of the aquifers to the several impacting factors. The availability of this knowledge is crucial to create the basis for groundwater protection.

This paper describes the hydrogeological map of the western Po Plain, located in Piedmont (north-western Italy). Po plain represents a hydrogeological system of European relevance, and the Piedmont Plain is the most important groundwater reservoir of the Region. The 1:300,000 scale map was realised using previous and new data to update the knowledge of this area. The map provides information about the hydrogeological complexes and their type and degree of permeability, water table levels and depth, piezometric level fluctuation, lithostratigraphic cross-sections, thickness, and percentage of the permeable deposits between 0 and 50 m from the ground surface. All this information is essential to public administrations, stakeholders, researchers, and professionals for defining possible tools for groundwater protection and management and for planning new groundwater exploitation (i.e. municipal drinking water supplies).