Water Quality and Hydrogeochemical Characteristics of Some Karst Water Sources in Apuseni Mountains, Romania
Human activities and natural factors determine the hydrogeochemical characteristics of karst groundwaters and their use as drinking water. This study assesses the hydrogeochemical characteristics of 14 karst water sources in the Apuseni Mountains (NW Romania) and their potential use as drinking wate...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/6/857 |
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| author | Maria-Alexandra Hoaghia Ana Moldovan Eniko Kovacs Ionut Cornel Mirea Marius Kenesz Traian Brad Oana Cadar Valer Micle Erika Andrea Levei Oana Teodora Moldovan |
| author_facet | Maria-Alexandra Hoaghia Ana Moldovan Eniko Kovacs Ionut Cornel Mirea Marius Kenesz Traian Brad Oana Cadar Valer Micle Erika Andrea Levei Oana Teodora Moldovan |
| author_sort | Maria-Alexandra Hoaghia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Human activities and natural factors determine the hydrogeochemical characteristics of karst groundwaters and their use as drinking water. This study assesses the hydrogeochemical characteristics of 14 karst water sources in the Apuseni Mountains (NW Romania) and their potential use as drinking water sources. As shown by the Durov and by the Piper diagrams, the chemical composition of the waters is typical of karst waters as it is dominated by HCO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> and Ca<sup>2+</sup>, having a circumneutral to alkaline pH and total dissolved solids ranging between 131 and 1092 mg L<sup>−1</sup>. The relation between the major ions revealed that dissolution is the main process contributing to the water chemistry. Limestone and dolostone are the main Ca and Mg sources, while halite is the main Na and Cl source. The Gibbs diagram confirmed the rock dominance of the water chemistry. The groundwater quality index (GWQI) showed that the waters are of excellent quality, except for two waters that displayed medium and good quality status. The quality of the studied karst waters is influenced by the geological characteristics, mainly by the water–rock interaction and, to a more limited extent, by anthropogenic activities. The investigated karst waters could be exploited as drinking water resources in the study area. The results of the present study highlight the importance of karst waters in the context of good-quality water shortage but also the vulnerability of this resource to anthropogenic influences. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:02:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-78833dd9011249268666c01858ab4bb5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:02:57Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-78833dd9011249268666c01858ab4bb52023-11-21T11:23:49ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412021-03-0113685710.3390/w13060857Water Quality and Hydrogeochemical Characteristics of Some Karst Water Sources in Apuseni Mountains, RomaniaMaria-Alexandra Hoaghia0Ana Moldovan1Eniko Kovacs2Ionut Cornel Mirea3Marius Kenesz4Traian Brad5Oana Cadar6Valer Micle7Erika Andrea Levei8Oana Teodora Moldovan9INCDO-INOE 2000 Research Institute for Analytical Instrumentation, 67 Donath Street, 400293 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaINCDO-INOE 2000 Research Institute for Analytical Instrumentation, 67 Donath Street, 400293 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaINCDO-INOE 2000 Research Institute for Analytical Instrumentation, 67 Donath Street, 400293 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaDepartment of Geospeleology and Paleontology, Emil Racovitza Institute of Speleology, Calea 13 Septembrie, 050711 Bucharest, RomaniaCluj Department, Emil Racovita Institute of Speleology, 5 Clinicilor Street, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaCluj Department, Emil Racovita Institute of Speleology, 5 Clinicilor Street, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaINCDO-INOE 2000 Research Institute for Analytical Instrumentation, 67 Donath Street, 400293 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaFaculty of Materials and Environmental Engineering, Technical University, 103-105 Muncii Boulevard, 400641 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaINCDO-INOE 2000 Research Institute for Analytical Instrumentation, 67 Donath Street, 400293 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaCluj Department, Emil Racovita Institute of Speleology, 5 Clinicilor Street, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaHuman activities and natural factors determine the hydrogeochemical characteristics of karst groundwaters and their use as drinking water. This study assesses the hydrogeochemical characteristics of 14 karst water sources in the Apuseni Mountains (NW Romania) and their potential use as drinking water sources. As shown by the Durov and by the Piper diagrams, the chemical composition of the waters is typical of karst waters as it is dominated by HCO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> and Ca<sup>2+</sup>, having a circumneutral to alkaline pH and total dissolved solids ranging between 131 and 1092 mg L<sup>−1</sup>. The relation between the major ions revealed that dissolution is the main process contributing to the water chemistry. Limestone and dolostone are the main Ca and Mg sources, while halite is the main Na and Cl source. The Gibbs diagram confirmed the rock dominance of the water chemistry. The groundwater quality index (GWQI) showed that the waters are of excellent quality, except for two waters that displayed medium and good quality status. The quality of the studied karst waters is influenced by the geological characteristics, mainly by the water–rock interaction and, to a more limited extent, by anthropogenic activities. The investigated karst waters could be exploited as drinking water resources in the study area. The results of the present study highlight the importance of karst waters in the context of good-quality water shortage but also the vulnerability of this resource to anthropogenic influences.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/6/857karst springsgroundwater quality assessmentwater–rock interactionevaporation processes |
| spellingShingle | Maria-Alexandra Hoaghia Ana Moldovan Eniko Kovacs Ionut Cornel Mirea Marius Kenesz Traian Brad Oana Cadar Valer Micle Erika Andrea Levei Oana Teodora Moldovan Water Quality and Hydrogeochemical Characteristics of Some Karst Water Sources in Apuseni Mountains, Romania Water karst springs groundwater quality assessment water–rock interaction evaporation processes |
| title | Water Quality and Hydrogeochemical Characteristics of Some Karst Water Sources in Apuseni Mountains, Romania |
| title_full | Water Quality and Hydrogeochemical Characteristics of Some Karst Water Sources in Apuseni Mountains, Romania |
| title_fullStr | Water Quality and Hydrogeochemical Characteristics of Some Karst Water Sources in Apuseni Mountains, Romania |
| title_full_unstemmed | Water Quality and Hydrogeochemical Characteristics of Some Karst Water Sources in Apuseni Mountains, Romania |
| title_short | Water Quality and Hydrogeochemical Characteristics of Some Karst Water Sources in Apuseni Mountains, Romania |
| title_sort | water quality and hydrogeochemical characteristics of some karst water sources in apuseni mountains romania |
| topic | karst springs groundwater quality assessment water–rock interaction evaporation processes |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/6/857 |
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