Qualitative features of inland water on the northern foot of the Southern Carpathians with special reference to the effect due to human activity

Abstract

Hydrological investigations were conducted through August into September 2003, 2004 and 2011 on the headwaters of River Cibin and Chindrel mountainous area in the Danube drainage system on the northern foot of the Southern Carpathians. The main purpose of the present paper is to clarify the effect of human activity on the quality of inland water. The concentrtion of dissolved substances in the water of River Cibin shows the maximum value at the uppermost observation point and decreases downstream due to dilution. Such a characteristic spatial change in river water quality is significantly affected by untreated household effluent from a settlement, which is located on the mountain ridge. On the contrary, no human effect is recognized in the quality of inland water in Chindrel mountainous area, where only transhumance of sheep has been performed. It is pointed out that quality of river water in the rural settlement has a tendency to improve after Romania was affiliated with EU in 2007.