Pregledni rad
NITRATE CONCENTRATION MONITORING IN THE WATER SUPPLIED BY KOPRIVNICA WATERWORKS
Igor Horvat
; student
Ankica Senta
; ŠNZ "A.Štampar", Zagreb, Hrvatska
Aleksandar Racz
; Zdravstveno veleučilište, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Sažetak
It is of vital importance that environment and health of the inhabitants of Koprivnica-Križevci County is protected by preserving the quality of underground water in the Ivanščak water pumping zone supplying drinking water to over 12,000 consumers. The greatest threats to the vulnerable first water-carrying layer are fertilisers and pesticides extensively used on nearby agricultural land.
The paper presents statistical data on nitrate concentrations from 1985 to 2004. These are compared with the results of more recent studies conducted between 2005 and 2008. It is encouraging that drinking water at the Ivanščak water pumping station has steadily proved to be of satisfactory quality not requiring processing prior to pumping into the waterworks distribution system.
However, despite these optimistic figures it is a matter of concern that nitrate concentrations in drinking water in 2001 were 28,05 mg/l NO3, whereas the first available measurements from 1985 showed only 10,81 mg/l NO3, representing an almost 160% increase. Significantly, in the past seven or eight years nitrate concentrations at Ivanščak water pumping station have remained steadily at approximately 27–28 mg/l NO3. These values, according to Croatian regulations, do not represent a toxicological and, consequently, a public health threat.
Future caution is needed as these values are above those recommended by the EU (25 mg/l). Permanent and systematic control of agricultural activities is required in compliance with the relevant EU Directive (91/676/EEC).
Ključne riječi
nitrates; water supply; chemical fertilisers
Hrčak ID:
62378
URI
Datum izdavanja:
17.12.2010.
Posjeta: 3.107 *