176
A. Constantin and C. St. Nitescu
The Romanian authorities launched in the 1960s a vast operation to study
the underground water phenomenon in Dobrogea. First, there was comprehensive
research of Siutghiol Lake, made by local and national authorities. The average
depth of the lake was found to be of five to six meters, but there have been discovered places where the depth reaches 17 m, right where the underground springs are
[19]. The lake is in contact with the aquifer. This is the reason this lake, which is
more than seven kilometers long and two kilometers wide, separated from the Black
Sea by a strip of land, still contains fresh water.
Two deep-sea drillings were executed near Neptun. There have been taken samples, and electromagnetic measurements have been carried out. The tests lasted for
five years and concluded that there are no sea water infiltrations in the aquifer [1].
Groundwater is the best source of drinking water, being cantoned in a relatively
isolated environment from human activities.
At present, Dobrogea uses water from both underground and surface sources.
In Constanta County, there are being into operation 85 underground water sources
with 279 equipped wells, offering a total installed capacity of 33520.90 m
3 /h and
two sources of surface water, respectively the source Galesu and Vifor Hill, whose
total installed capacity is 4.57 m
3 /h [3].
The water is stored in 176 tanks, with a total storage volume of over 306,000 m
3 .
The raw water is treated in two water treatment facilities: Palas—Constanta treatment plant and Vifor Hill - Cernavoda treatment plant, being pumped by 66 drinking
water pumping stations, with a total capacity of 157,818 m
3 /h [3].
Drinking water is provided to twelve towns and eighty-seven communes and
villages in Constanta County. Among these localities, 16 have over 5000 inhabitants,
and they are supplied with over 1000 m
3 of water per day.
Particular importance is given to the water quality. Therefore groundwater bodies are monitored through 180 wells spread all over Dobrogea. Moreover, some of
them are equipped with level and temperature sensors. Thus, the water chemical
state, quantity and temperature are being assessed to maintain a proper and healthy
water supply. Lately, six of the ten monitored water bodies have a good chemical
status (RODL02, RODL03, RODL05, RODL06, RODL07 and RODL08 in Fig. 5.2).
While the remaining four bodies of groundwater have a weak chemical status (due
to exceedance in NH 4 , NO 3 , PO 4 , chlorides, Pb) [22].
Both surface water sources, Galesu which is placed on the Danube-Black Sea
Canal, and Vifor Hill, placed on the Danube River, are monitored following our
legislation, referring to human use. The monitoring activity addresses a complex of
issues as physical and chemical parameters of water, identification of water pollution
sources, soil erosion degree, the influence of fish farming and so on, aiming to improve
the water quality.
A. Constantin and C. St. Nitescu
The Romanian authorities launched in the 1960s a vast operation to study
the underground water phenomenon in Dobrogea. First, there was comprehensive
research of Siutghiol Lake, made by local and national authorities. The average
depth of the lake was found to be of five to six meters, but there have been discovered places where the depth reaches 17 m, right where the underground springs are
[19]. The lake is in contact with the aquifer. This is the reason this lake, which is
more than seven kilometers long and two kilometers wide, separated from the Black
Sea by a strip of land, still contains fresh water.
Two deep-sea drillings were executed near Neptun. There have been taken samples, and electromagnetic measurements have been carried out. The tests lasted for
five years and concluded that there are no sea water infiltrations in the aquifer [1].
Groundwater is the best source of drinking water, being cantoned in a relatively
isolated environment from human activities.
At present, Dobrogea uses water from both underground and surface sources.
In Constanta County, there are being into operation 85 underground water sources
with 279 equipped wells, offering a total installed capacity of 33520.90 m
3 /h and
two sources of surface water, respectively the source Galesu and Vifor Hill, whose
total installed capacity is 4.57 m
3 /h [3].
The water is stored in 176 tanks, with a total storage volume of over 306,000 m
3 .
The raw water is treated in two water treatment facilities: Palas—Constanta treatment plant and Vifor Hill - Cernavoda treatment plant, being pumped by 66 drinking
water pumping stations, with a total capacity of 157,818 m
3 /h [3].
Drinking water is provided to twelve towns and eighty-seven communes and
villages in Constanta County. Among these localities, 16 have over 5000 inhabitants,
and they are supplied with over 1000 m
3 of water per day.
Particular importance is given to the water quality. Therefore groundwater bodies are monitored through 180 wells spread all over Dobrogea. Moreover, some of
them are equipped with level and temperature sensors. Thus, the water chemical
state, quantity and temperature are being assessed to maintain a proper and healthy
water supply. Lately, six of the ten monitored water bodies have a good chemical
status (RODL02, RODL03, RODL05, RODL06, RODL07 and RODL08 in Fig. 5.2).
While the remaining four bodies of groundwater have a weak chemical status (due
to exceedance in NH 4 , NO 3 , PO 4 , chlorides, Pb) [22].
Both surface water sources, Galesu which is placed on the Danube-Black Sea
Canal, and Vifor Hill, placed on the Danube River, are monitored following our
legislation, referring to human use. The monitoring activity addresses a complex of
issues as physical and chemical parameters of water, identification of water pollution
sources, soil erosion degree, the influence of fish farming and so on, aiming to improve
the water quality.