**5. The quality of groundwater**

It was emphasized that the natural groundwater regime has suffered over time, a number of quantitative and qualitative changes. These changes are due both to their use as a source of drinking water supply, execution of industrial and construction of water projects and hydrological improvements, and polluting factors (natural and antropic). Groundwater bodies are classified in two classes: good and poor, for both quantitative and chemical status. For the assessment of groundwater chemical status, the concentrations determined at the point of monitoring laid down in accordance with the water framework directive is compared with threshold values (TV) which are regarded as self-defence for good status of groundwater body.

In 2005 there were monitored a number of 1,947 drilling places, of which 1,664 are belonging to the national network and 283 are drillings performed with the aim of tracking pollution located around major industrial centres. From the analysis of the processed data consisting in physical and chemical parameters resulted from monitoring phreatic layer located in above mentioned drillings, most values over thresholds have been recorded for the indicators: organic substances, ammonium, nitrates, phosphates, and iron. Thus in 580 of analyzed drillings, values over thresholds were registered in organic substance; in 450 drillings, values over thresholds for nitrates, and in 85 drillings, for phosphates.

In 2006 there were monitored the same number of drilling places, 1,947 respectively, of which 1,664 are belonging to the national network and 283 are drillings performed with the aim of tracking pollution located around major industrial centres. From the analysis of the processed data consisting in physical and chemical parameters resulted from monitoring phreatic layer located in above mentioned drillings, most concerning have been recorded for the indicators: organic substances, ammonium, nitrates, phosphates, iron. Thus in 543 of analyzed drillings (30.00%) values over thresholds were registered in organic substance; in 437 drillings (22.40%) values over thresholds for nitrates, and in 78 drillings (4.00%) for phosphates. Compared with the previous year, in 2006 it was shown a trend of decrease of aquifers contamination with these substances, in overall.

In 2007, the drillings were monitored taking into consideration the new system for groundwater monitoring, implemented in 2006, which pursues closer and more concrete supervision in terms of water quality. In 2007 were monitored a number of 1,939 drillings, of which 1.687 are part of national hydro geological network (of which 28 are springs) and 252 are drillings performed in order to tracking pollution, located around major industrial centres. From the analysis of the processed data resulted as consequence of monitoring the physical and chemical parameters of the phreatic layer located in drillings, most values over the established thresholds concerned: organic substances, nitrogen, ammonium, phosphates, and iron.

The IVth quality surface water and Vth quality surface water represent the most polluted water category, with highest content in the main pollutants identified in the surface water (nitrogen compounds, chlorine, Fe, P, Fe, Mn, Cu, Cd, Zn, pesticides, oil products and detergents). The biggest values of the low quality surface water were recorded in 2006, 15.80 respectively, and the smallest in 2005, 6.80, respectively. The values of the IVth and Vth quality surface water reported in the other years of the studied period of 5 years (2005 –

It was emphasized that the natural groundwater regime has suffered over time, a number of quantitative and qualitative changes. These changes are due both to their use as a source of drinking water supply, execution of industrial and construction of water projects and hydrological improvements, and polluting factors (natural and antropic). Groundwater bodies are classified in two classes: good and poor, for both quantitative and chemical status. For the assessment of groundwater chemical status, the concentrations determined at the point of monitoring laid down in accordance with the water framework directive is compared with threshold values (TV) which are regarded as self-defence for good status of

In 2005 there were monitored a number of 1,947 drilling places, of which 1,664 are belonging to the national network and 283 are drillings performed with the aim of tracking pollution located around major industrial centres. From the analysis of the processed data consisting in physical and chemical parameters resulted from monitoring phreatic layer located in above mentioned drillings, most values over thresholds have been recorded for the indicators: organic substances, ammonium, nitrates, phosphates, and iron. Thus in 580 of analyzed drillings, values over thresholds were registered in organic substance; in 450

In 2006 there were monitored the same number of drilling places, 1,947 respectively, of which 1,664 are belonging to the national network and 283 are drillings performed with the aim of tracking pollution located around major industrial centres. From the analysis of the processed data consisting in physical and chemical parameters resulted from monitoring phreatic layer located in above mentioned drillings, most concerning have been recorded for the indicators: organic substances, ammonium, nitrates, phosphates, iron. Thus in 543 of analyzed drillings (30.00%) values over thresholds were registered in organic substance; in 437 drillings (22.40%) values over thresholds for nitrates, and in 78 drillings (4.00%) for phosphates. Compared with the previous year, in 2006 it was shown a trend of decrease of

In 2007, the drillings were monitored taking into consideration the new system for groundwater monitoring, implemented in 2006, which pursues closer and more concrete supervision in terms of water quality. In 2007 were monitored a number of 1,939 drillings, of which 1.687 are part of national hydro geological network (of which 28 are springs) and 252 are drillings performed in order to tracking pollution, located around major industrial centres. From the analysis of the processed data resulted as consequence of monitoring the physical and chemical parameters of the phreatic layer located in drillings, most values over the established thresholds concerned: organic substances, nitrogen, ammonium, phosphates,

drillings, values over thresholds for nitrates, and in 85 drillings, for phosphates.

aquifers contamination with these substances, in overall.

2009) were: 12.40% in 2007, 9.40% in 2008, and 10.00% in 2009.

**5. The quality of groundwater** 

groundwater body.

and iron.

In 2008, there have been monitored 1,899 drillings. Through the county public Health Offices, there were also monitored fountains, whose water is generally non-drinking, because of the overshoot recorded for ammonium, nitrates, and bacteriological indicators. These, fountains and are infested by infiltrations from non hydro - isolated sanitation groups, and from domestic waste and animal origin waste, originating in private households. From the analysis of the processed data resulted as consequence of monitoring the physical and chemical parameters of the phreatic layer located in drillings, most values over the established thresholds concerned: organic substances, nitrogen, ammonium, total hardness, chlorine, phosphates, and iron. Concerning the groundwater contamination with nitrates, overshoot of concentration has been recorded in 220 drillings, what represents 11.59% of total drillings monitored. Pollution is differentiated felt, existing areas in majority of river basin, in which, in the aquifer are found concentrations that lie far above the limit allowed, 50 mg/L. Another cause of unsatisfactory groundwater quality is the intense contamination of aquifers with ammonium and organic substances. Thus, in 466 of analysed drillings, values over threshold were recorded for the organic substance, and in 518 drillings, the ammonium indicator had values over admitted threshold.

In 2009, for the assessment of the quantitative status of bodies of groundwater it has been used the European Guide recommendations, prepared in the framework of the Common Implementation Strategy Framework, using the following criteria: hydric balance; connection with surface waters; influence on terrestrial ecosystems dependent on groundwater, intrusion of saline water or other intrusions. The good status of groundwater, involves a number of conditions set out in annex V of the Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/EC). Additional conditions for chemical status and evaluation procedures are developed in the Groundwater Daughter Directive (Directive 2006/118/EC), transposed into national law by Governmental Decision no. 53/2009, for the approval of the national plan of groundwater protection against pollution and deterioration.

Assessment of the status of bodies of groundwater was compiled on the basis of the comparison of chemical analysis carried out in 2009, with the threshold values (TV), values that have been determined for a number of 142 bodies of groundwater, from the 142 bodies established in Romania and which were published in the Order of the Ministry of Environment and Forests no. 137/2009. By applying the methodology and criteria for the

Evolution of Water Quality in Romania 145

not purified wastewater, and 919.083 million m3/year, about 41.60%, not completely purified wastewater. So, in 2007, about 77.40% of not or insufficiently purified wastewaters from the main sources of pollution, have reached the natural receptors, especially rivers. Compared with the total number of 1,348 investigated purification stations, only 410 stations, representing 30.40%, have functioned properly. The remaining 938 stations (69.60%) operated improperly, because of not enough treatment capacity, or due to the operating and maintenance problems (advanced physical and moral wear inefficiency of the biological treatment phase concerning the insurance of needed oxygen, lack of investments

> 54.9 44.9 41.6 33.1 44.2

I II III IV V

Fig. 8. The evolution of the wastewater categories during studied period of 5 years 2005 – 2009. I – water resulted from purification stations that functioned properly; II – wastewater to be purified; III – wastewater sufficiently purified (corresponding); IV – wastewater

Compared with the total refused volume 5,254.565 million m3/year, 1,868.832 million m3/year (35.57% of the total) were wastewater to be purified. Of these, 560.623 million m3/year (30%) were sufficiently purified (corresponding), 689.145 million m3/year (36,87%) have been insufficiently purified wastewater and 619.064 million m3/year (33.13%) were not purified wastewater. Therefore, in 2008, a rate of 70% of wastewaters, not purified or insufficiently purified, from the main sources of pollution, has reached the natural receptors,

Statistical analysis of the situation of the main sources of waste water, according to the results of the monitoring carried out in 2009, revealed the global issues that are described below. Compared with the total volume of the refused water - 5,206.207 million m3/year, 2,058.899 millions m3/year (39.6% of the total) are wastewater to be purified. Of these, 485.438 million m3/year (23.60%) were sufficiently purified (corresponding), 909.019 millions m3/year (44.2%) were insufficiently purified wastewater and 664.442 million m3/year (32.2%) were not purified wastewater. Therefore, in 2009, 76.5% of not purified or insufficiently purified wastewaters from the main sources of pollution have reached the natural receptors, especially rivers. Compared with the total number of 1.363 investigated (urban and industrial) purification stations, only 445 stations, accounting for 33%, have

functioned properly, and the remaining 9 stations, namely 67% operated improperly.

20 20.2 22.6 30 23.6

Wastewater category

25.1 34.9 35.8 36.87 32.3

for modernization, etc).

52.7 55.1 44.3 35.5 39.6

insufficiently purified; V – wastewater not purified

%

80

60

40

28.3 26.5 30.4 29.1 33

20

0

especially rivers.

assessment of groundwater bodies, the situation of those qualitative 142 bodies of groundwater shall be presented as follows: 109 bodies are in a good quality, 22 of groundwater bodies are in a poor quality, while 11 groundwater bodies are in a poor quality, locally.
