KEY ISSUES OF THE CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF DRINKING WATER IN TIMIS COUNTY, ROMANIA

Cristina PETRESCU

Cristina PETRESCU “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Romania

Keywords: WATER CHEMICAL PARAMETERS, IRON, MANGANESE, AMMONIA, OB-SERVATIONAL CASE-STUDY

Abstract

The aim of the performed study was to identify the key issues with the chemical properties of the drinking water in Timis County, Romania. Material and methods: The observational case-study was conducted for two years (2016-2017) on a sample of 1,086 water sources (2,159 water tests) in Timis County. Results: The majority of the water chemical parameters fell under the Maximum Admitted Concentrations (MAC). Main key issues identified were excessive concentrations of manganese in Timisoara (mean-208 μg/L), of iron in Timis County (rural) (mean-239 μg/L) and of ammonia in Timis County (urban: Lugoj) (mean-0.96 mg/L) public wells. Manganese mean concentrations surpassed MAC (50 μg/L) in non-chlorinated water, for companies, individual and public wells, in both areas Timisoara and Timis County. Iron mean concentrations surpassed MAC (200 μg/L) in public wells in Timis County and Timisoara, in non-chlorinated water. Ammonia means concentrations exceeded MAC (0.5 mg/L) in chlorinated water, in Timis County, for companies and public sources, and in Timis County (rural) in public wells. In Timisoara from 444 water tests in public wells, only 269 were harvested for manganese, 274 for iron. Conclusions: excessive concentrations of manganese, iron and ammonia are the key issues with the chemical properties of drinking water in Timis County.

Author Biography

Cristina PETRESCU, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Romania

Public Health Direction Timis, Romania

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