The quality of underground waters in the Timiș-Bega interfluve, downstream from Timișoara

Abstract

Although they observe a low percentage among the total water resources, underground waters represent an
important water delivery source, for the population and various human activities. Because the water in the
analyzed area is largely delivered by underground sources, their quality is especially important. For the
qualitative evaluation of the underground waters, during summer 2012, 85 water samples from various
sources were collected and analyzed in the field, and during autumn another 21 water samples were collected,
which were then analyzed in the laboratory. The determination of some drink water quality evaluation
parameters highlights the following aspects: most analysed samples had ammonium concentrations over the
maximum admissible limit, a consequence of agricultural and animal breeding activities; approximately 50%
of the collected samples observed dissolved oxygen under the established limit admissible for drinking water;
the nitrate concentration exceeded the maximum admissible limit in over 50% of the samples collected from
wells and decreased parallel to the depth increase; pH values agree with the active legal requirements, and the
values obtained in the electric conductivity determination, are registered overall under the maximum
admissible value, higher with the samples collected from wells. Thus, in the analyzed area, the underground
water quality is „affected” by high ammonium concentrations and low dissolved oxygen values.