Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

A study on the possibilities of using groundwater in rural communities in South-Western Banat Plain.

2013; Agroprint Timisoara; Volume: 45; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

2066-1843

Laura Șmuleac, S. Oncia, A. Ienciu, R. Bertici, A. Șmuleac, C. Piţiga,

Environmental Science and Water Management

This paper is of great ecological, social and economic interest. Water is a vital and vulnerable natural resource for life and society. Nevertheless, it is one of the worst managed resources, being used improperly, wasted and returned to nature in bad condition. As many negative events with pathogenic or toxic risk may occur, water supply monitoring in a human community through sample collection and analysis has become a necessary permanent measure. While completing a cycle that starts from its source and ends with its final use (in households, farms or industries), water can accumulate and carry human activity residues that alter its basic qualities. Monitoring groundwater quality in South-Western Banat Plain was based on two drillings, one in Gataia and one in Belinţ. Water samples were collected in May and June 2009 and 2011. The main quality indicators were dissolved oxygen concentration, chemical oxygen consumption, nitrate and nitrite concentration, calcium, magnesium, iron, lead and manganese concentration. The analyses were performed at the Laboratory of Basin Water Administration, the Banat Branch. The low concentrations of oxygen dissolved in water indicate that water in both drillings belongs to the third class. As far as the chemical oxygen consumption at the Gataia drilling is concerned, water belongs to the first class, while at Belinţ the water is second class. The nitrate concentration is much above the limit, reaching values that correspond to the fifth class. The nitrite concentration in both drillings places the water in the fourth class. The calcium level is higher at Gataia, where water is very hard. The magnesium level indicates that only the water at the Belinţ drilling belongs to the second class, while the iron concentration places both drillings in the second class. The lead level is above limit only at Gataia, and the manganese level places water in the third class. These results reveal that in both drillings, water quality is low and not suitable for supply, especially because of the nitrate and nitrite concentrations. The very hard water at the Gataia drilling requires special attention when used for irrigation purposes.