Monitoring of drinking water from the karst springs of the Ljuberadja-Niš water supply system (Serbia)

Abstract

The Ljuberadja-Niš water supply system is one of the main components of the Niš water supply system. This system consists of a series of natural, karst springs of groundwater (Krupac, Mokra, Divljana, Ljuberadja), with the capacity of 800–1450 L/s. The most important factors in a healthy drinking water supply are the proper choice and protection of water springs. Considering that water composition may sometimes have an adverse effect on consumer health, production processes in some industries and also on facilities and water company equipment, the aim of this paper was to examine water composition and to monitor its quality by analyzing the physical, chemical, and microbiological indicators. Water quality is tested in accordance with the corresponding directives and regulations of national and international authorities. The analysis of drinking water encompassed the appointment of the following parameters (quality indicators): physical parameters: temperature, turbidity, pH value and electrical conductivity of water; chemical parameters: chloride, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, sulfate, calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, aluminum and chromium in the form of Cr6+ and Cr3+ ions; microbiological parameters: culturable organisms, total and fecal coliform bacteria, intestinal enterococci, sulfite reducing clostridia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus strain. Monitoring has confirmed the hygienic and health adequacy of the water distributed to cosumers.