Monitoring Olt River Water Quality in Upstream and Downstream Miercurea Ciuc Town. Note II: The Interactions between the Monitored Physico-Chemical Indicators

  • Demeter GAL University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Faculty of Agriculture, Calea Mănăştur 3-5, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
  • Antonia ODAGIU University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 3-5 Manastur St., 400372 Cluj-Napoca
  • Tania MIHĂIESCU University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Faculty of Agriculture, Calea Mănăştur 3-5, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
  • Claudia BALINT 2 Somes Water Company, Water Analysis Laboratory of the WTP Gilău, 79 21 December 1989, St., 400604 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
  • Daniela BORDEA University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Faculty of Agriculture, Calea Mănăştur 3-5, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
  • Cristian IEDERAN University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Faculty of Agriculture, Calea Mănăştur 3-5, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
  • Diana COVACIU University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Faculty of Agriculture, Calea Mănăştur 3-5, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Keywords: calcium ions, correlations conductivity, pH, turbidity

Abstract


The history of water on our planet likely begins 4.5 billion years ago with the formation of Earth,
as water is an indispensable substance for life in any form. This study aims to identify the interactions
among the physico-chemical parameters of water in the monitored section of the Olt River. Seven
sampling points were established along the river, monitored in 2024, both upstream and downstream
of Miercurea Ciuc municipality. To analyze the interactions among the identified physico-chemical
parameters, their values were quantified, and simple Pearson correlations were calculated using
STATISTICA for Windows, version 8.0. A moderate positive correlation between pH and conductivity
was observed at most monitoring points, indicating that pH is influenced differently by the salt content
of the water, with higher pH levels generally corresponding to increased conductivity. In contrast,
turbidity showed an inverse relationship with pH, suggesting that pH is more strongly affected by the
content and nature of impurities in the water. A positive correlation was also found between pH and
calcium carbonate (CaCO3) concentrations, revealing that higher calcium ion levels in the water have a
significant impact on pH. Conductivity exhibited medium to very strong positive correlations with
CaCO3 concentrations, suggesting that it significantly affects the water's conductivity. Meanwhile, the
relationship between turbidity and CaCO3 concentrations was weak to moderate, indicating a relatively
minor influence of calcium carbonate on the water's turbidity.

 

Published
2025-01-12