FACTORS AFFECTING GROUNDWATER QUALITY IN THE CONTEXT OF THE EXPLOITATION OF SMALL DRINKING WATER INTAKES

In this work, attention has been paid to the problem of quality of groundwater, which is the main source of supply of drinking water for rural inhabitants. In particular, the important factors for the groundwater quality in rural areas have been presented. This paper also shows the impact of the quality and quantity of available water resources on the exploitation of chosen small water intakes. Results of research on the quality parameters of groundwater, obtained in 2012÷2016 for selected rural intakes in north-western Poland, were presented. There was an increase in the content of iron and manganese compounds, ammonium ions, as well as the presence of bacteriological contaminants in test water samples. For these reasons, problems with providing the receivers with water of appropriate quality parameters have been reported in described rural intakes. The paper is an attempt to show the relationship between the type and magnitude of changes in the groundwater quality and the efficiency of the water treatment. In addition, pro-quality activities undertaken by local water companies were emphasized.