Water quality of rural water supply systems in the Municipality of Čačak

Abstract

In the rural area of the Municipality of Čačak there are more than eighty rural water supply systems which do not have advanced spring water purification and disinfection equipment. The sanitary-hygienic water quality of the rural water supply systems in the Municipality of Čačak is not continually controlled. During 2005, sampling and basic chemical and microbiological analyses of the water from 16 rural supply systems in the area were performed. Concentrations of metallic ions were monitored and microbiological investigations were carried out. It was determined that cation contents, with the exception of the Mg content, were below maximum permissible values. It was only in two water supply systems, where disinfection was applied, that the water was microbiologically safe (Moravac in Mrčajevci and Banja in Baluga). Of the fourteen rural water supply systems with malfunctioning disinfection system, the water of thirteen systems was hygienically unsafe due to the presence of bacteria. Their water was polluted by coliform bacteria and faecal streptococci. It is necessary to broaden the analyses to cover a greater number of water quality parameters and to take certain technical measures to provide users of rural water supply systems in the Municipality of Čačak with safe water. 

The water in the rural water supply systems can be efficiently disinfected by active chlorine produced on the spot by electrolysis of dilute sodium-chloride solutions. The equipment for the active chlorine production on the spot is the most suitable for use in small rural water supply systems, due to non-toxic chemicals used and simplicity of application.