The monitoring of water quality intended for human consumption

Abstract

In Romania, the water intended for human consumption is obtained from surface water resources (90-92%) and underground water resources, and the existent systems of water supply cover only 65% of population consumption (97% for urban population). Ynder yhe EEA Financial Mechanism, INCD ECOIND and STIFTELSEN SINTEF (Norwegian Company) will develop in partership a project for monitoring potable water quality (from catching until production and distribution)asupplied by two Romanian Companies, which have, at regional level, monopoly on services of potable water production and distribution for at least 100 000 inhabitants. The potable water quality monitoring duration was 12 months, over 1400 samples were taken from 185 sampling points, captation (raw water), technological flow, the plants exit, from storage tanks and from networks distribution - final consumers. For each sample physical and chemical determinations were performed according to National and European regulations. From the analytical results we constantly observed, for some water treatment plants - at the exit and at consumers - high concentrations of free chloride, trihalomethanes, aluminium, iron, zinc, sulfur and ammmonium and sporadically we detected turbidity, nitrate, organic matters and manganese. Regarding microbiological quality, we observed the presence of Clostridium perfringens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria and mesophile bacteria which grow at 220C and 370C. The expected results of the project are adequate and representative monitoring programme of the quality of drinking water and measures and recomends to protect human health from the adverse effects of any contamination of drinking water.