The influence of agricultural and industrial activities on the quality of water from public wells located in Ramnicu Valcea County

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of groundwater in an area with agricultural and industrial influences, located in Valcea County. Groundwater samples were collected in 2 campaigns from 14 public wells and were analyzed for pH, conductivity (EC), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), nitrites (NO2-), nitrates (NO3+), ammonium (NH4+) and chlorides (Cl-). In most of the studied public wells, the laboratory results obtained for the physical-chemical parameters were within the limits imposed by the national legislation and those approved by the WHO. High levels of iron and manganese of natural origin were found at a public well located in a rural area and also chlorides at a well from an industrial area which exceeds the limits imposed.