Evaluation of the anthropogenic impact on surface water systems: case of Lower Arges Basin, Romania

Elfrida M. Carstea (1) , G. Pavelescu (1) , C. Ioja (2) , L. Cristescu (1)

1 INOE - National Institute of Research and Development for Optoelectronics
2 Centre for Environmental Research and Impact

Water Framework Directive states that all Europe Rivers must achieve good ecological status by 2015. This goal is much problematic in developing countries where cities are rapidly growing and authorities have to deal with new wastewater management problems. One such case is Arges Lower Basin which represents one of the most polluted areas of Romania due to the concentration of industrial, agricultural and household degradation sources carried along the stream. The major pollution source is Bucharest metropolitan area which, lacking a wastewater plant, releases the untreated water into the river. A complex study was performed in order to evaluate the influence of untreated wastewater on Arges river water quality. Samples collected from Arges River were analyzed using spectroscopic and standard techniques. The results showed a significant impact of urban sewage discharges on the river water quality. This urges the need to develop wastewater treatment facilities at the discharge points.

Mots clés: Sewage; pollution; developing countries; quality; treatment

Domaines: Environnement et Société

Elfrida M. Carstea, G. Pavelescu, C. Ioja, L. Cristescu. Evaluation of the anthropogenic impact on surface water systems: case of Lower Arges Basin, Romania. 8th World Wide Workshop for Young Environmental Scientists WWW-YES 2009: Urban waters: resource or risks?, Jun 2009, Arcueil, France. ⟨hal-00593040⟩