3 Causes and Effects of Water Pollution in Romania
71
3.3 Results and Discussions
Regarding the surface water bodies at EU level, the main significant pressures
are hydromorphological pressures (affecting 40% of water bodies), diffuse sources
(38%), particularly from agriculture, and atmospheric deposition, mercury, followed
by point sources (18%) and water abstraction (7%). The main impacts on surface
water bodies are nutrient enrichment, chemical pollution and altered habitats due to
morphological changes.
In the updated RBMP, 3027 water bodies were redeemed (compared to 3399 water
bodies, identified in the first RBMP), the average length of water bodies located on
the hydrographic network being 25.5 km.
Water management in Romania has been organized around river basins into 11
river basin authorities, the Siret River Basin having the largest area (42,890 km
2 )
and the greatest water resource (RO1-Banat; RO2-Jiu; RO3-Olt; RO4-ArgesVedea; RO5-Buzau-Ialomita; RO6-Dobrogea-Litoral; RO7-Mures; RO8-Crisuri;
RO9-Somes-Tisa; RO10-Siret; RO11-Prut-Barlad).
Geological formations in Romania are very different in terms of petrography and
morphology. From a geological point of view, Romania is characterized by silica
(predominantly), limestone and organic substrates.
Land use at national level, according to official data, includes agricultural land
(61.39%), forests (26.65%), water and ponds (3.5%), built surfaces (3.06%), roads
and railways (1.63%) and other surfaces (3.77%).
According to WISE WFD database, in Romania are the following categories of
surface water [63]:
– rivers (natural, strong modified and artificial)—75.486 km (2891 cadastral rivers);
– natural lakes—130 (1009 km
2 );
– transitional waters—2 (383 km
2 );
– coastal waters—4 (252 km
2 ) (Figs. 3.8, 3.9 and 3.10).
3.3.1 Surface Water Bodies (SWB)
In Romania, 50% of all bodies of surface water have been classified as heavily
modified water bodies (35%) or artificial water (15%) (Figs. 3.11, 3.12 and 3.13).
Detectability of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn levels in Maramure¸ s and Satu Mare counties
in NW Romania has been found to reflect not only metal loadings from local geology
and anthropogenic sources but also to be influenced by water chemistry, including
pH and Eh. In general, Cu and Zn were found to be the most widely detectable metals,
the enrichment above intervention values is restricted to Cd and Zn, two relatively
mobile elements. Cd is by far the most toxic and would appear to present a greater
threat to human health; however, Zn enrichment is more widespread. In RO9 SomesTisa is located the Aurul tailings pond where the groundwater is polluted with heavy
metal elements (Fe, Mn, Ni, Zn, Cd, Pb) [42].
71
3.3 Results and Discussions
Regarding the surface water bodies at EU level, the main significant pressures
are hydromorphological pressures (affecting 40% of water bodies), diffuse sources
(38%), particularly from agriculture, and atmospheric deposition, mercury, followed
by point sources (18%) and water abstraction (7%). The main impacts on surface
water bodies are nutrient enrichment, chemical pollution and altered habitats due to
morphological changes.
In the updated RBMP, 3027 water bodies were redeemed (compared to 3399 water
bodies, identified in the first RBMP), the average length of water bodies located on
the hydrographic network being 25.5 km.
Water management in Romania has been organized around river basins into 11
river basin authorities, the Siret River Basin having the largest area (42,890 km
2 )
and the greatest water resource (RO1-Banat; RO2-Jiu; RO3-Olt; RO4-ArgesVedea; RO5-Buzau-Ialomita; RO6-Dobrogea-Litoral; RO7-Mures; RO8-Crisuri;
RO9-Somes-Tisa; RO10-Siret; RO11-Prut-Barlad).
Geological formations in Romania are very different in terms of petrography and
morphology. From a geological point of view, Romania is characterized by silica
(predominantly), limestone and organic substrates.
Land use at national level, according to official data, includes agricultural land
(61.39%), forests (26.65%), water and ponds (3.5%), built surfaces (3.06%), roads
and railways (1.63%) and other surfaces (3.77%).
According to WISE WFD database, in Romania are the following categories of
surface water [63]:
– rivers (natural, strong modified and artificial)—75.486 km (2891 cadastral rivers);
– natural lakes—130 (1009 km
2 );
– transitional waters—2 (383 km
2 );
– coastal waters—4 (252 km
2 ) (Figs. 3.8, 3.9 and 3.10).
3.3.1 Surface Water Bodies (SWB)
In Romania, 50% of all bodies of surface water have been classified as heavily
modified water bodies (35%) or artificial water (15%) (Figs. 3.11, 3.12 and 3.13).
Detectability of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn levels in Maramure¸ s and Satu Mare counties
in NW Romania has been found to reflect not only metal loadings from local geology
and anthropogenic sources but also to be influenced by water chemistry, including
pH and Eh. In general, Cu and Zn were found to be the most widely detectable metals,
the enrichment above intervention values is restricted to Cd and Zn, two relatively
mobile elements. Cd is by far the most toxic and would appear to present a greater
threat to human health; however, Zn enrichment is more widespread. In RO9 SomesTisa is located the Aurul tailings pond where the groundwater is polluted with heavy
metal elements (Fe, Mn, Ni, Zn, Cd, Pb) [42].