Volume 18(1), 144- 150, 2014 JOURNAL of Horticulture, Forestry and Biotechnology www.journal-hfb.usab-tm.ro

Monitoring of nitrogen compounds long ways Timis River basin

Balint Alina1*, Cîrciu G.1, Alexa Ersilia2, Cozma Antoanela2

1Banat`s University of Agricultural Science and Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Horticulture and Forestry; 2Banat`s University of Agricultural Science and Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Food Processing Technology

*Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to monitor the content of nitrogen Key words compounds (nitrates, nitrites and ammonium ions ) of surface water taken from the Timis river. Were collected quarterly water samples from six nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, checkpoints on the main course of the river, Slatina- Timis Caransebes, Timis river Lugoj, Gavojdia, Cebza, Graniceri points uniformly distributed between the springs and the exit point of the river, namely the border with Serbia. Framing control points on the river Timis river in quality classes highlights 3 superior sections qualitatively corresponding to I category quality. Control points Slatina- Timis , Lugoj and Caransebes shows low levels of nitrogen compounds which indicates high water quality on this section . Control points Gavojdia and Cebza register values of nitrogen compounds within the tolerances level of quality l, II and III. This section shows the trend of average pollution coming from diffuse pollution and from the natural sources. Graniceri checkpoint that collects wastewater from livestock represents the Timis river section with the highest level of nitrogen.

In the context of socio-economic development, water in surface and groundwater water as a result of diffuse resources are subject to a strong process of decay, with pollution from agriculture (intensive application of adverse consequences on the environment and human fertilizers) and livestock (animal breeders). The health. Surface water quality does not remain constant existence of ammonia in water and lack of nitrites over time, but may vary depending on natural or indicates recent contamination of water. When water artificial sources of contamination, which requires contains both ammonia and nutrient pollution is permanent control on the concentrations of pollutants assumed that past a certain time. The lack of ammonia, and to identify agricultural and industrial sources of but the presence of nitrates and nitrites implies that pollution. Nitrogen is essential for life and in the water contamination occurred a long time. So, in this time, undergoes many chemical and biochemical processes. the water was auto cleaned. Nitrogen occurs mostly as nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, Drinking water with a higher content of nitrogen can nitrogen and the fixed one into organic compounds cause methemoglobinemia to children, while the which have continuous transformation groups, forming presence of high amounts of nitrates in water can have "nitrogen cycle" [10]. harmful effects on the body indirectly by lowering the The presence of nitrogen compounds in water is general resistance and infections accompanied by normal and necessary, the existing concentrations after favouring the production of respiratory and digestive adjustment mechanisms functioning in natural and affections. Currently in Romania surface waters are semi-natural ecosystems. evaluated according to Normative 161/2006 which is Water pollution with nitrogen compounds can cause achieved through surface water classification of damage to living and terrestrial organisms and aquatic ecological and chemical point of view [9]. Ecological ecosystems, endangering people's health, impairing the status is evaluated based on biological quality natural environment of the utilities and water damage elements, microbiological and physical-chemical and [11]. Nitrates, nitrites and ammonia are formed in chemical status is evaluated based on contamination by water, especially in decomposition and protein hazardous substances (heavy metals and organic micro compounds mineralization that enter in surface waters pollutants). with sewage or industrial waste from coke factories, River evaluation from ecological point of view led to benzene, slaughtering plants dairy products or the definition of five ecological status of quality: fertilizers. Indirect various forms of nitrogen may reach • Class I - very good status, color coded blue;

144 • Class-II - good status, color coded green; intensive agriculture, landfills and domestic animal • Class-III - moderate status, color coded yellow; farms in the adjacent area [1-5]. Timis River, the • Class IV - poor status, color coded orange; richest water resource of Banat Area River basin drains • Class VI - bad status, color coded red [9]. an area of over 5677 km ², totaling a length of 244 km. Quality objective to be achieved is class II of quality, Timis river provides water supply to municipalities very good status is attributed to a background reference Caransebes Lugoj and through Timis-Bega channel [7]. Changes in water quality of natural causes can be (Costei Hydro-technical node) supplemented Bega significant over time. Variations depend largely on the River stock to ensure water requirement of Timisoara hydrological regime of that surface water and the [12]. origin and physical-chemical and biological behavior In this study aim is to monitor water quality on the of various constituents. For rivers, the largest and river Timis in Slatina Timis-Graniceri section, typical temporal variability is flow. This variation regarding the nitrogen content (nitrate, nitrite and causes significant changes in the concentration of ions ammonium) in the period 2011-2012. and other dissolved substances transported. On the one Also, based on the values obtained, was achieved the hand, it can be observed a decrease of some ion classification rate in different water quality classes concentration once with flow increasing when diluted, according to Normative 161/2006. on the other hand can be highlighted a small increase in concentration with increasing flow, in case of organic Material and Methods materials and nitrogen compounds which water runoff washes them off the ground and take them into the Timis river water quality was monitored quarterly in river. [10] Previous research made on the river Jiu [7] six control ponts on the main course of the river, Aries [8] or Mures [6] reported a nutrient pollution Slatina-Timis Caransebeş, Lugoj, Gavojdia, Cebza, (nitrogen and phosphorus) generated by the discharge Graniceri, points evenly distributed between the of untreated wastewater from urban agglomerations springs and the exit point of the river, namely border and livestock farms. Also, groundwater surface with Serbia. Disposing of sampling points of the Timis monitoring in Timis County indicated a nitrogen load river surface water is shown in Figure 1. that exceeds the maximum limits generated by

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3 5

2

1 6

Fig. 1 Sampling points on the river Timis

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Collecting point Slatina-Timis (1) is positioned on the Sampling and storage of water samples was made in superior course of the Timis river and can be accordance with ISO 5667-10, ISO 2852. Were considered as a reference point, control, being located collected medium water samples in the plastic material upstream of potential sources of pollution point like receptacles of approximately one liter . Caransebes, Lugoj towns and some factories and The nitrate, nitrite and ammonium content was done animal farming complexes. from water after spectrophotometer detection using the Collecting point Caransebeş (2) is situated near water rapid tests AQUA MERCK and the Spectrophotometer catchments socket for potable water in Plant no. 2 SQ 118 at a wavelength of 515, 525 and 546 nm for Caransebes. Timis river water is used to supply the five nitrate, nitrites and ammonium [13]. infiltration basins (S = 1800 m² each) basins that supplement the underground flow of the 15 wells that Results and Discussions provide 25% of the municipal water of Caransebes rest of water being provided by Plant no. 2 that takes The experimental results regarding the nitrogen water from accumulating Zervesti. compounds content on the Timis river, being Collecting point Lugoj (4) monitored in six sampling points and over two years The sampling point is located downstream of the Cebza (2011, 2012) are shown in Figures 2-7. point, at the intersection of parallel 45 "41 'north Ammonium content of the analyzed samples increases latitude and the meridian of 21" 53' east longitude. over the Timis river and classification of surface water Timis river go through aprox.4 kilometres, divining the quality in categories differ both from one sampling Lugoj city in two parts. point to another and depending on the season. The Collecting point Gavojdia (3) is located downstream of lowest value corresponding to Class I surface water the confluence points of the Timis rivers and Nădrag quality (<0.4 mg / l N-NH4) is found in the sampling Spaia creek and with Bistra River, possible polluted points Slatina-Timis, Lugoj and Caransebes located affluents of Timis, but before of Lugoj city, an upstream of sources of pollution, in the first and fourth important possible source of pollution. At a short trimester of years 2011. distance, about 10-15 km downstream can be found The point with the maximum ammonium content (2 mg Plant no. 2 of potable water of Lugoj Municipality. / l), corresponding to the lower quality class IV, is Collecting point Cebza (5) is situated downstream of located near the border Serbia Graniceri and the derivation Timis-Bega, downstream of waste water downstream livestock complexes from Peciu Nou. Was discharge from Lugoj Municipality, downstream of the register variations regarding the ammonium content in discharge sewerage channel Bega-Timis and collecting point Gavojdia with a maximum value of downstream of the confluence of creeks Surgani (going 0.38 mg / l in first trimester and minimum values of through Buzias) and Poganis, all possible sources of 0.20 to 0.21 mg / l corresponding to quality class I, pollution. during trimester III-IV. Collecting point Border (6) is positioned close to the Collecting point Cebza register maximum values (0.53 border with Serbia, about 7 km downstream of the mg / l) in II trimester corresponding to the class of confluence with the Lanca-Birda creek that collects quality II with a tendency to decrease until the wastewater from livestock farm belonging Ciacova minimum value of 0.35 mg / l corresponding to locality and also downstream of the pig farm Peciu maximum allowable level for surface water with I Nou which discharging manure directly into the Timis quality class (figure 2). Figure 2 shows the growing river. trend of ammonium load in surface water in the sampling points downstream from pollution sources.

146 2 2 1.8 1.6

1.4 Trimester I 1.2 Trimester II 1 Trimester III 0.53 0.8 0.53 Trimester IV 0.38 0.6 0.32 0.51 0.41 0.25 0.27 0.36 0.35 0.43 0.28 0.27 0.24 0.41 0.33 0.35 0.4 0.28 0.3 0.26 0.22 0.21 0.20.16 0 Slatina-T Caransebes Lugoj Gavojdia Cebza Graniceri

Fig. 2 Ammonium content (mgN / L) in water samples taken from the river Timis in 2011

In 2012 is preserved ascending profile of ammonium L. In Gavojdia, Cebza and Graniceri points the values ion concentrations from downstream to upstream with registered in the second trimester correspond to class II maximum values recorded in Graniceri sampling point, of quality and corresponding values to winter months (I where was registered a maximum of 1.67 mg / l trimester) with high rainfall levels, correspond to ammonia-N, corresponding to a quality class IV. quality class III (0.85 mg / l Gavojdia 1 03 mg / l Sampling points Slatina, Caransebes and Lugoj fits into Cebza) (figure 3). I class quality limit the values not exceeding 0.4 mg /

1.8 1.67 1.6 1.4 1.2 1.03 Trimester I 1 0.85 Trimester II 0.8 0.78 0.52 Trimester III 0.6 0.22 Trimester IV 0.36 0.30.4 0.480.44 0.27 0.4 0.24 0.2 0.250.18 0.310.29 0.16 0.17 0.19 0.2 0.16 0.15 0.13 0 Slatina-T Caransebes Lugoj Gavojdia Cebza Graniceri

Fig. 3 Ammonium content (mgN / l) in water samples taken from the river Timis in 2012

Nitrite content is low in surface water taken from lower (Figure 4). The values registered in 2012 in Timis river, frame in I or II grade assigned according regarding the nitrite content in Slatina Timis, Gavojdia to Norm 161/2006 in superior water quality point of and Graniceri points, are below values registered in view, except for values recorded in the first trimester at 2011, while in Caransebes and Lugoj points values in Graniceri (0.062 mg / l). The trend is to increase the 2012 are compared with the previous year. Except level of chemical compounds based on nitrogen from Graniceri sampling point in trimester IV, falling in downstream to upstream with maximum values terms of nutrient content in category III of water recorded at the exit point of Timis in Romania quality, remaining sampling points correspond to (Graniceri). Can be observed a decrease trend of nitric surface water quality I or II with values ranging from content in the second time of year when rainfall is 0.005 to 0.03 mg / l (figure 5).

147 70 62 60 50 50 37 43 Trimester I 40 38 Trimester II 24 26 30 30 21 Trimester III 19 20 17 14 20 14 14 Trimester IV 10 13 6 8 10 6 5 6 8 8 0 Slatina-T Caransebes Lugoj Gavojdia Cebza Graniceri

Fig. 4 Nitrite content (μgN / l) in water samples taken from the Timis river in 2011

40 35 35.33 30 28.33 24.33 25 21 21 24 Trimester I 20 19 22.33 20 18 Trimester II 13 17 13 14 14 16 Trimester III 15 13 14 11 Trimester IV 8 10 7 8 5 6 5 0 Slatina-T Caransebes Lugoj Gavojdia Cebza Graniceri

Fig. 5 Nitrite content (μgN / l) in water samples taken from the Timis river in 2012

Nitrate content determined in surface water of the decade of 2011 (Figure 6). In 2012, with the exception Timis river is low and corresponds to I class grade of Graniceri sampling point located downstream of (below 1 mg / L nitrate nitrogen), except Graniceri pollution sources and the register values above 1 mg / l sampling point with a maximum of 2.01 mg N-NO3 / L nitric nitrogen corresponding to quality class II, other corresponding to class II quality. In this case confirms sampling points correspond to surface waters classified the increasing trend of nitrogen content in the first in class I in terms of nitrate content (figure 7).

2.5 2.01 2

1.5 Trimester I Trimester II 1 0.88 Trimester III 0.65 0.73 0.74 0.63 0.54 0.49 Trimester IV 0.51 0.45 0.44 0.5 0.29 0.34 0.5 0.280.18 0.35 0.14 0.14 0.15 0 Slatina-T Caransebes Gavojdia Cebza Graniceri

Fig. 6 The content of nitrates (mgN / L) in water samples taken from the river Timis in 2011

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1.8 1.71 1.6 1.54 1.4 1.2 1.06 1.01 0.95 Trimester I 1 0.78 0.69 0.7 Trimester II 0.8 0.63 0.65 0.59 0.62 0.54 0.53 0.540.550.56 0.58 0.460.46 0.52 0.54 0.54 Trimester III 0.6 0.39 0.4 Trimester IV 0.2 0 Slatina-T Caransebes Lugoj Gavojdia Cebza Graniceri

Fig. 7 The content of nitrates (mgN / l) in water samples taken from the river Timis in 2012

Based on experimental data obtained regarding the and the slow course and stagnant of manure cause concentration of nutrients (ammonium, nitrite, nitrate) deterioration of water quality. on Timis River has been tried the classification of Of the total length of watercourses in Timis surface water quality compared to general indicators hydrological basin supervised in 6 sections, has been according to Normative 161/2006. calculated the percentage of the stream corresponding The framing of the control points on Timis river in to the 5 quality categories of water depending on the quality classes highlight 3 sections qualitatively content of nitrogen compounds. superior corresponding to quality category I. The In 2011 water share in quality category I in terms of of control points Slatina-Timis, Lugoj and Caransebes nitrate content is 86.66%, 38.33% depending on the shows low levels of chemical indicators which indicate nitrite content and 23.33% depending on the ammonia high quality water on this section. content. The control point 2 corresponds water catchment Water quality in 2012, correspond to a Class I quality socket to provide potable water for Caransebes, Timis classification in 95% of the total lenght of Timis river, river water is used for feeding the five infiltration from the nitrate content point of view, of 45% basins with an area of 1800 square meters Every basins depending on the nitrite content and 31.66% depending which themselves supplements the underground flow on the ammonium ion content. of the 15 wells that provide 25% of the Caransebes municipal water. In the case of control point 3, Conclusions belonging to Lugoj municipality source of drinking water is also noted the absence of pollutants and • Surface water of Timis river taken from upstream indicators framing in the quality category class I. points of possible sources of pollution such as cities The control points Cebza and Gavojdia register Caransebes, Lugoj or some factories and animal nitrogen compounds values within the tolerances farming complexes are included in Class I of quality. quality levels of II and III category class of water • Collection points situated downstream of wastewater quality. This section shows the trend of average discharge from sewage and downstream of the pollution coming from diffuse and natural pollution confluence with the surrounding creeks that collects sources. wastewater from livestock sector shows a high load of The control point 6 situated near the Graniceri village, nitrogen compounds (nitrate, nitrite and ammonium Timis County, represents the section with the highest ions) leading to an overall evaluation of studied water pollution levels framing in quality class IV regarding samples in II or III quality classes. the content of ammonium content, quality class III • Variations regarding the nitrogen compounds regarding nitrite content and class II for nitrate, which concentrations in water depend on the hydrological corresponds an overall assessment of quality class III regime of the respective surface water and the origin regarding the content of nitrogen compounds. This and physical-chemical and biological behaviour of section is the last on the Timis river before the border various constituents. with Serbia. Surface water retains a certain state of • In order to protect surface water quality monitoring ecological degradation caused by the contribution of measures are required to key indicators pollutants and wastewater to the Timis river and Lanca Birda creek effective management of waste from industry, that Timis confluence to about 7 km from Graniceri livestock and agriculture activities. section. Creek Lanca Birda collects wastewater from livestock farms belonging Voiteni and Birda localities

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