THE QUALITY AND IMPORTANCE OF GROUNDWATER IN THE ESCARPMENT ZONE OF THE BUG RIVER VALLEY

Background
The use of groundwater from private wells in households is increasing significantly. However, this water is usually untreated, making it a carrier of diseases. Chemical composition plays a key role in assessing groundwater quality. Due to rapid urbanization and industrialization of the environment, pollutants (especially toxic elements) are constantly being released into the aquatic environment and pose a threat to human and animal health. There is a large variety of microorganisms in aquifers. The use of groundwater from aquifers as sources of drinking water without water treatment or disinfection is a public health problem.

Material and methods
The material for the study consisted of water samples taken from used and unused domestic wells in villages located in Lubelskie Province, Biała Podlaska County, Janów Podlaski municipality, Poland. ICP-OES was used to determine the composition of elements. The total number of mesophilic and psychrophilic bacteria was determined for 5 wells using the pour-plate method according to the Polish Standard PN-EN ISO 6222:2004.

Results
The water from the wells is unfit for consumption due to high microbiological contamination. A study would have to be carried out on the content of specific pathogenic microorganisms. In most of the samples analyzed, the heavy metal content of the water is below admissible limits.

Conclusions
Water resources of the highest quality should be increasingly protected and retained as drinking water reserves. This is extremely important in view of the progressing climate change and the slow process of groundwater renewal.