ABSTRACT
Some very special technologies have been used in the case of coastal spring tapping to prevent the influence of seawater.
The first approach, direct extraction from springs, has been used since ancient times but for many reasons is less acceptable than other tapping strategies. This method does not allow for the optimum exploitation of karst aquifer water potential in spite of a favorable water budget, because of a discrepancy between the need for water and the natural discharge of the spring. Contemporary tapping strategies for karstic springs avoid this approach. For many reasons the second approach to karst spring tapping is much more acceptable. Following is a list of some of those reasons:
1. Minimum natural spring discharge is in many cases smaller than demand. Successfully located wells make it possible to extract more water than minimum the natural spring discharge. The specific yield of wells in a dry period is higher than corresponding spring discharge because of static aquifer reservoir extraction.
