Assoc. Prof. Dr. Natalija Špeh and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Anja Bubik published an article in the journal Pollutants titled: An Interdisciplinary Perspective of the Karst Springs’ Areas as Drinking Water: Perusal from Northeastern Slovenia
Karst aquifers, due to their unique underground water flow characteristics, are highly vulnerable and therefore susceptible to pollution and abandonment. The study compares an active karst drinking water spring (Ljubija) with an abandoned one (Rečica), aiming to assess spring water quality and protection risks, especially since water scarcity is a pressing issue during dry summer periods. The catchments of Ljubija and Rečica, both designated as water protection areas (WPA), were monitored over an entire calendar year (January–December 2020). Groundwater (GW) and surface water (SW) were analyzed twice a month, under both dry and precipitation conditions, in accordance with European and national guidelines.
The interdisciplinary approach linked natural conditions with human impacts, assessing water quality in relation to precipitation levels, hydrogeography, and other landscape characteristics. According to Slovenian regulations (limit value 50 mg/L), the Ljubija spring showed stable water quality with low nitrate levels (average 2.6 mg/L) and minimal human impact. In contrast, the Rečica catchment proved to be more vulnerable; its groundwater source was excluded from drinking use in the 1990s due to organic pollution. Additional risks were associated with the karst hydrogeological conditions of the area. In 2020, the average nitrate concentration in Rečica was 6.0 mg/L.
The results highlight the need to update monitoring guidelines and values, particularly for naturally more sensitive karst water sources, in order to safeguard drinking water quality and ensure long-term sustainable use.
Website: https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4672/5/3/19
PDF Version: https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4672/5/3/19/pdf