Land Subsidence Due to Thermal Water Withdrawal: The Case of Abano Terme, Northern Italy

The major geological features of Euganean thermal basin are recalled. It is then noted that excessive withdrawal of thermal waters, especially concentrated at Abano Terme, has caused serious lowering of the piezometric levels (2.5 m/years were measured during the period 1970-1973). The intervention performed by the unitary Management imposed by Italian Government, led to the stabilization of these levels starting from 1975-1976. However, subsidence still takes place, with soil lowering of up to 2 cm/year in 1989 even if the phenomenon is following a decreasing trend. Due to subsidence, the walls of various buildings show significant inclinations; studies performed, however, have shown that this does not create any danger for the stability of the buildings.