Abstract
The chemical quality of waters from eight karst springs from the Southern Carpathians and the health risk of small rural communities using these springs as a drinking water source were assessed. The results indicated that the spring waters in the studied area are chemically suitable to be used as drinking water and pose no health risks for adults and children. The spring water can be generally described as having circumneutral pH, Ca-Mg-HCO3− facies, excellent to good palatability, and low trace metal and nitrate content. The variation of chemical parameters between spring and autumn was low. These springs could become appropriate drinking water sources for the neighboring rural communities after the assessment of their microbiological status and, if it is the case, proper water treatment. Moreover, periodic monitoring of the water’s chemical parameters, mostly nitrates, as well as the establishment of a protected area near the springs to prevent the negative impact of anthropogenic sources on water quality is recommended.
Highlights
Access to water with appropriate quality is a worldwide priority, as it is crucial for human health, as well as for economic and social development [1–3]
In Romania, despite the important steps taken in the last decade to ensure access to safe drinking waters, there are still a high number of small rural communities that rely on individual wells, natural sprigs, or improvised local water distribution networks with unknown or poorly monitored quality waters
This region is inhabited by rural communities where the local springs are are often often used used for for drinking drinking and and household household purposes
Summary
Access to water with appropriate quality is a worldwide priority, as it is crucial for human health, as well as for economic and social development [1–3]. In Romania, despite the important steps taken in the last decade to ensure access to safe drinking waters, there are still a high number of small rural communities that rely on individual wells, natural sprigs, or improvised local water distribution networks with unknown or poorly monitored quality waters. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 234 number of small rural communities that rely on individual wells, natural sprigs, or improvised local water distribution networks with unknown or poorly monitored quality waters. Public Health 2022, 19, 234 number of small rural communities that rely on individual wells, natural sprigs, or improvised local water distribution networks with unknown or poorly monitored quality waters Such rural communities are often exposed to potential health risks through the rural communities are oftenquality exposed to potential health risks through consumption consumption of inadequate drinking waters.
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