Monitoring of Water Source Gilău and its Affluent Someşul Rece during 2005-2009

Abstract

The quality of drinking-water in Cluj-Napoca is controlled through a combination of measures: protection of water sources, control of treatment processes and management of the distribution and handling of the water. The first component, protection of water sources may be done only knowing as much of water quality and of the factors that threaten it. The present paper reveals the water source of Cluj, Gilău Lake and his affluent Someşul Rece River monitoring in a period of 5 years, between 2005 and 2009, their physical, chemical and microbiological parameters being monitored once a month, watching on the evolution of water quality. This surveillance offers a review of the safety and acceptability of drinking water supplies in Cluj County and contributes with several applicative aspects towards water quality supervision and evolution in time of the big dam reservoirs and their tributaries, which may be a major source of pollution downstream. Descriptive analyses, including the mean value, variability, trends, correlations and graphic displays were performed; SPSS and Epi-Info 2000 statistical software were used. Data analysis revealed that the good quality of Gilău Lake regarding physical and chemical parameters led to its framing in A1 quality category, except for ammonium and microbiological parameters, which allowed the framing in A2 quality category. Major averages in Someşul Rece than in Gilău Lake, up to 14 fold for faecal coliforms indicates the fact that the river worked out an important and constant pollution cause for Gilău water source during the period of time considered.