CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF FRESH WATER FROM A KARST AREA IN UKRAINE

Abstract

The chemical composition analysis was performed for fresh water samples taken from a karst area located in the region of Chernivtsi, Ukraine. Water samples were taken from private wells, springs and open ponds near Verenchanka. Total water hardness exceeded the sanitary limits for all the well samples and ranged from 11 to 29 mmol-eq/l (respective sanitary limit is 7 mmol-eq/l). This can be caused by the close-to-surface karst formations located under the village which release massive amounts of water hardness ions in the well water as a result of karst ablation. However, the heavy metals content (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn) was within the sanitary limits excepting two samples which slightly exceeded zinc content. Total hardness of the surface spring and pond waters ranged from 6.2 to 11 mmol-eq/l and the heavy metals ions contents were comparatively low.