64
I. G. Breaban and A. I. Breaban
Fecal contamination of household sewage contributes to deteriorating water quality for recreational activities (swimming, boat trips or fishing), the water being
unpleasant and uncertain. Chemical contaminants, such as heavy metals, pesticides
and some industrial chemicals, can also pose significant pressures on the life and
health of living organisms. Sediment leaching on the land contributes to the formation of water mud films, blocking sunlight and, consequently, the disappearance of
living creatures. By irrigating agricultural land with water from inappropriate sources
can increase the content of salts, nutrients or other pollutants in water and soils [198].
Natural water resources can be contaminated by the discharge of residual effluents
from multiple industrial or agricultural activities. They may contain one or more
substances of inorganic nature (heavy metals, acids), organic, microporous plastics,
nutrients, etc. at the same time.
3.1.1.3 Pollutant Types
Water pollution occurs when waste is released into water bodies. Polluted water
can lead to the destruction of existing plants and organisms in or near the aquatic
ecosystem, affecting humans, plants and animals that consume it. In the literature
there are different classification concerning the water pollutants based on various
criteria. For the present study the following classification was chose taking into
account the specific of the pollution processes at regional scale: (1) Organic, (2)
Pathogens, (3) Inorganic, (4) Nutrients, (5) Macroscopic, (6) Radioactive, and (7)
Other forms of pollution—plastics, alien species, accidental pollution.
Europe has recognized the importance of owning high-quality water resources by
acting in this regard by adopting and implementing the WFD in December 2000 to
ensure that these resources are properly managed to achieve good water quality in
all European waters by 2027 by managing water bodies (rivers, lakes, groundwater
bodies, transitional and coastal waters). The WFD aims to implement harmonized
water protection regulations within the European Union, with the monitoring and
management unit being the “body of water” considered as a significant element of
surface water, uniform in type and status.
Eurobarometer [60], following the September 2017 survey of 28 EU Member
States, reconfirmed Europe’s concern for water resources, from the first ten threats
of the environment, four concerns water, such as pollution of rivers, lakes and groundwater (36%), marine pollution (33%), shortage of drinking water (30%), frequent
droughts or floods (25%).
Legislative instruments have been promoted at EU level the protection and sustainable management of water resources. The WFD considers that citizens participation
in EU is very important for the achievement of the proposed goals (Table 3.2).
I. G. Breaban and A. I. Breaban
Fecal contamination of household sewage contributes to deteriorating water quality for recreational activities (swimming, boat trips or fishing), the water being
unpleasant and uncertain. Chemical contaminants, such as heavy metals, pesticides
and some industrial chemicals, can also pose significant pressures on the life and
health of living organisms. Sediment leaching on the land contributes to the formation of water mud films, blocking sunlight and, consequently, the disappearance of
living creatures. By irrigating agricultural land with water from inappropriate sources
can increase the content of salts, nutrients or other pollutants in water and soils [198].
Natural water resources can be contaminated by the discharge of residual effluents
from multiple industrial or agricultural activities. They may contain one or more
substances of inorganic nature (heavy metals, acids), organic, microporous plastics,
nutrients, etc. at the same time.
3.1.1.3 Pollutant Types
Water pollution occurs when waste is released into water bodies. Polluted water
can lead to the destruction of existing plants and organisms in or near the aquatic
ecosystem, affecting humans, plants and animals that consume it. In the literature
there are different classification concerning the water pollutants based on various
criteria. For the present study the following classification was chose taking into
account the specific of the pollution processes at regional scale: (1) Organic, (2)
Pathogens, (3) Inorganic, (4) Nutrients, (5) Macroscopic, (6) Radioactive, and (7)
Other forms of pollution—plastics, alien species, accidental pollution.
Europe has recognized the importance of owning high-quality water resources by
acting in this regard by adopting and implementing the WFD in December 2000 to
ensure that these resources are properly managed to achieve good water quality in
all European waters by 2027 by managing water bodies (rivers, lakes, groundwater
bodies, transitional and coastal waters). The WFD aims to implement harmonized
water protection regulations within the European Union, with the monitoring and
management unit being the “body of water” considered as a significant element of
surface water, uniform in type and status.
Eurobarometer [60], following the September 2017 survey of 28 EU Member
States, reconfirmed Europe’s concern for water resources, from the first ten threats
of the environment, four concerns water, such as pollution of rivers, lakes and groundwater (36%), marine pollution (33%), shortage of drinking water (30%), frequent
droughts or floods (25%).
Legislative instruments have been promoted at EU level the protection and sustainable management of water resources. The WFD considers that citizens participation
in EU is very important for the achievement of the proposed goals (Table 3.2).