Variability of physical and chemical parameters of water from fountains in health resorts

¹ University of Science and Technology in Bydgoszcz, Department of Construction, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, Department of Heating, Ventilation and Sanitary Engineering, Kaliskiego 7, 85-796 Bydgoszcz, Poland
² Department of Animal Hygiene and Environmental Microbiology

^* Corresponding author: julita.milik@utp.edu.pl

Abstract

The aim of the study is to assess the quality of water from selected recreational fountains in Ciechocinek and Inowrocław health resorts. All analyzed water fountains are characterized by seasonal changes in their discharge. The exceedance of biochemical oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand values found in the water samples may indicate water contamination with compounds of organic origin getting from the external environment to the basin of the fountain or too little recirculation of water. A significant improvement in water quality was noted in fountains in which water exchange occurred due to, for example, its failure. In addition, the water was characterized by a relatively high content of general hardness and conductivity. Reported exceedances of water quality parameters disqualify it for direct human consumption. It does not meet the requirements for drinking water. It is recommended to introduce supervision over the quality of water from fountains by the bodies of the State Sanitary Inspection in the form of water monitoring in order to eliminate from the water compounds that may have a negative impact on human health. It is recommended to regularly use pre-filtration, chlorination and sodium hypochlorite in water in fountains to eliminate physical impurities.