7 The Vulnerability of Water Resources from Eastern Romania …
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7.2 General Features of the Region
The area under study occupies a surface of 20,569 km
2 , is inhabited by approximately
2.2 million, and covers the eastern portion of Romania, between the rivers Siret and
Prut, bordering Ukraine (to the north) and the Republic of Moldova (to the east).
Economic and social studies classify it as vulnerable to an increase in the severity
of issues associated with water bodies that act as borders or are shared with other
countries (such as the river Prut, which represents the border between Romania and
the Republic of Moldova) or certain groundwater bodies.
Tableland shapes dominate the topography, with altitudes between 5 and 450 m.
Geologically speaking, sands prevail in the southern part, where the high infiltration
rate of the water from precipitation diminishes the runoff. In the center, there is a
mixture of sands and clays, which favor landslides and gully erosion [21, 27]. The
presence of clay deposits implies a more rapid reaction of the runoff. The changes
in land use of the last two centuries, with continuous deforestation, have increased
the runoff in this central area, as well [56, 57]. In the north, clay and marl deposits
are dominant, while in the northwest clay and sandstone deposits are more frequent
[29].
Regarding the climate of the region, semi-dry continental features are dominant,
with maximum temperatures and precipitations in the summer (June or July) and
minimum values being recorded during the winter (January or February). The mean
annual temperature increases from 7 to 8 °C in the north to 9–10 °C in the south. The
annual amounts of precipitation range from 620 to 480 mm and decrease from north
to south. In the winter, precipitation is mainly solid, and most of it remains in the
form of a snow layer until spring because of frequent negative temperatures, which
vary from −4 to −6 °C in the north, and −2 to −3 °C in the south [52]. Seasonal
variation indicates that the precipitation amounts recorded in the summer are twice
to three times higher than those falling during the winter [15, 55].
In Eastern Romania, the discharge values of small rivers (under 50 km in length)
are quite low, less than 1 m
3 /s annually, and their regime is characterized by a
spring maximum, as well as by late summer and early autumn minimum. The spring
maximum runoff is based on precipitation and the melting of snow (see Fig. 7.1).
7.3 Methodologies Implemented in the Assessment
of Water Resource Vulnerability
The anthropic impact upon water sources can be evaluated through a series of methodologies. Given, however, the specific natural conditions and the social and demographic evolution of the area under analysis, we consider that the water exploitation
index (WEI) is the most suitable in this respect. This index refers to the degree of
strain that anthropogenic activities exercise upon natural water sources within a certain space (hydrographic sub-basin, hydrographic basin, national territory or region),
231
7.2 General Features of the Region
The area under study occupies a surface of 20,569 km
2 , is inhabited by approximately
2.2 million, and covers the eastern portion of Romania, between the rivers Siret and
Prut, bordering Ukraine (to the north) and the Republic of Moldova (to the east).
Economic and social studies classify it as vulnerable to an increase in the severity
of issues associated with water bodies that act as borders or are shared with other
countries (such as the river Prut, which represents the border between Romania and
the Republic of Moldova) or certain groundwater bodies.
Tableland shapes dominate the topography, with altitudes between 5 and 450 m.
Geologically speaking, sands prevail in the southern part, where the high infiltration
rate of the water from precipitation diminishes the runoff. In the center, there is a
mixture of sands and clays, which favor landslides and gully erosion [21, 27]. The
presence of clay deposits implies a more rapid reaction of the runoff. The changes
in land use of the last two centuries, with continuous deforestation, have increased
the runoff in this central area, as well [56, 57]. In the north, clay and marl deposits
are dominant, while in the northwest clay and sandstone deposits are more frequent
[29].
Regarding the climate of the region, semi-dry continental features are dominant,
with maximum temperatures and precipitations in the summer (June or July) and
minimum values being recorded during the winter (January or February). The mean
annual temperature increases from 7 to 8 °C in the north to 9–10 °C in the south. The
annual amounts of precipitation range from 620 to 480 mm and decrease from north
to south. In the winter, precipitation is mainly solid, and most of it remains in the
form of a snow layer until spring because of frequent negative temperatures, which
vary from −4 to −6 °C in the north, and −2 to −3 °C in the south [52]. Seasonal
variation indicates that the precipitation amounts recorded in the summer are twice
to three times higher than those falling during the winter [15, 55].
In Eastern Romania, the discharge values of small rivers (under 50 km in length)
are quite low, less than 1 m
3 /s annually, and their regime is characterized by a
spring maximum, as well as by late summer and early autumn minimum. The spring
maximum runoff is based on precipitation and the melting of snow (see Fig. 7.1).
7.3 Methodologies Implemented in the Assessment
of Water Resource Vulnerability
The anthropic impact upon water sources can be evaluated through a series of methodologies. Given, however, the specific natural conditions and the social and demographic evolution of the area under analysis, we consider that the water exploitation
index (WEI) is the most suitable in this respect. This index refers to the degree of
strain that anthropogenic activities exercise upon natural water sources within a certain space (hydrographic sub-basin, hydrographic basin, national territory or region),