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- Title
Potential for Natural Attenuation of Domestic and Agricultural Pollution in Karst Groundwater Environments.
- Authors
Brad, Traian; Bizic, Mina; Ionescu, Danny; Chiriac, Cecilia Maria; Kenesz, Marius; Roba, Carmen; Ionescu, Artur; Fekete, Alexandru; Mirea, Ionut Cornel; Moldovan, Oana Teodora
- Abstract
In karst areas, anthropogenic contaminants reach the subsurface with detrimental effects on the groundwater ecosystem and downstream springs, which often serve as drinking water sources for the local human communities. We analyzed the water chemistry and microbial community composition in upstream and downstream locations of five hydrokarst systems (HKS) during four seasons. Conductivity and nitrates were higher in the downstream springs than in the pre-karst waters, whereas the concentration of organic matter, considered here as a pollution indicator, was lower. The microbial community composition varied largely between upstream and downstream locations, with multiple species of potentially pathogenic bacteria decreasing in the HKS. Bacteria indicative of pollution decreased as well when passing through the HKS, but potential biodegraders increased. This suggests that the HKS can filter out part of the polluting organic matter and, with it, part of the associated microorganisms. Nevertheless, the water quality, including the presence of pathogens in downstream springs, must be further monitored to control whether the water is appropriate for consumption. In parallel, the human populations located upstream must be advised of the risks resulting from their daily activities, improper stocking of their various wastes and dumping of their refuse in surface streams.
- Subjects
AGRICULTURAL pollution; MICROBIOLOGICAL chemistry; WATER quality; WATER chemistry; PATHOGENIC bacteria; GROUNDWATER pollution
- Publication
Water (20734441), 2022, Vol 14, Issue 10, p1597
- ISSN
2073-4441
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/w14101597