Professional paper

Analysis of chemical properties of water in Šparožna cave and Piskovica cave

Matteo Zausnig

Abstract

Often underground karst water is the main source of drinking water for households and it is desirable to monitor water quality in speleological objects to prevent possible pollution of aquifers. The aim of this research was to analyze and compare water quality based on the basic chemical properties of water from speleological objects that differ in terms of the geological base on which they were formed and, most importantly, the risk of possible pollution. The first speleological object, where water samples were taken at five locations along the object, is Šparožna pećina in the hinterland of Kastav. The second speleological object is Piskovica Cave, where sampling was conducted at two locations. Šparožna pećina is an object formed in carbonate rocks (limestone), while Piskovica was formed in mixed silicate-carbonate deposits (flysch). Part of the water analysis in both speleological objects was performed directly on site using an instrument for measuring the required water properties. The second part of the water analysis was performed in the laboratory of the School of Science and Graphics in Rijeka. The analysis of silt from one of the solution pans in Šparožna pećina and a certain mass fraction of calcium carbonate in it was also performed. After the analysis and comparison of the obtained results, it was found that drip water has a higher hardness than water from the solution pan, and that water from Piskovica in general has a higher hardness than water from Šparožna pećina. More importantly, no significant water pollution was detected within the speleological object at any of the sampling points. This research will be continued for a period of at least one year, at least for the Šparožna pećina research site, in order to be able to compare the chemical properties of water in different periods of the year.

Keywords

Hrčak ID:

275765

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/275765

Publication date:

29.4.2022.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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