Freshwatersystem of coral inhabited island: availability and vulnerability (Magoodhoo Island of Faafu Atoll – Maldives)

Abstract Freshwaters constitute a fundamental and extremely limited resource for atoll islands’ population. The interplay of climatic and human-driven processes, which affect both the quantity and the quality of freshwater resources, may exacerbate the problem of water security and availability. This work evaluated the effects of good spectrum of anthropic impacts on groundwater quality in a typical and representative native inhabited island (c.a. 850 people) of Maldives, analyzing and interpreting hydrological and hydrochemical data, collected during a specific field survey on 51 sampling points after a rainy season. The island groundwater is constituted by a thin asymmetric lens, periodically recharged by rain. The lifestyle of people and water exploitation seem to be sustainable, even if groundwater resources are already experiencing moderate contamination and, limited to some areas, heavy pollution. The sources of impacts have been identified in diffuse organic matter contamination due to a poor domestic wastewater treatment, farming (poultry) and gardening activities. To face these impacts, it is essential to build a sewer system paired with a possibility to recycle wastewater reducing water over-exploitation. The collaborative and educational initiatives organization, at different levels, can increase the capacity for planning a sustainable development. Our results provide useful information for sustainable management plans to preserve freshwater resources of the island, which conservation is especially important considering the context of the future lifestyle changes and climatic scenarios for the Maldives. These findings can be extended by analogy to others atoll islands.