The possibility of drinking water capture for the city of Ljubljana by means of a water tunnel in the area of Krim mountain

Abstract

The article deals with the possibility of groundwater capture by means of a groundwater drainage tunnel in the area of Krim mountain range for a supplementary water supply of the city of Ljubljana. Within the scope of the investigation, a detailed geological mapping of the area was carried out, and hydrogeological, geophysical and engineering-geological research was performed. A water balance of the recharge area was calculated, indicating considerable quantities of groundwater which could be captured with an underground drainage tunnel. A course of the tunnel was suggested, with its entrance part located on the southern fringes of Ljubljansko barje south of the village Strahomer. The tunnel would run in the south-west direction in the Upper Triassic dolomite. Because of low environmental burden in the recharge area of the tunnel and due to good cleaning properties of dolomite it is expected that drinking water of very good quality could be captured by means of the drainage tunnel.