Assessment of Spring Water Quality in the City of Vladimir

Abstract

Introduction: Many urban residents use water from alternative sources, such as springs, which are natural discharge points of subterranean water at the surface of the groundwater, for drinking and cooking. Their quality is largely determined by local environmental conditions, soil barrier functions and underlying rocks. Objective: To assess spring water quality in the city of Vladimir in terms of safety and integral toxicity. Materials and methods: We took water samples from six springs located in different districts of the regional center and popular with its citizens. The samples were tested according to standard potentiometric, conductometric, and titrimetric methods. Integral toxicity of spring water samples was determined using a Biotox-10M luminometer. We then analyzed data on 31 biochemical and microbiological parameters and integral toxicity of spring water in the city for 2017–2022. Results: We established that spring water in Vladimir does not quite comply with the standards established by Russian San- itary Rules and Norms SanPiN 1.2.3685-21, Hygienic standards and requirements for ensuring safety and/or harmlessness of environmental factors for humans. We identified priority pollutants of spring water causing deterioration of its quality for the years 2017–2021. We also noted low levels of magnesium and fluorine ions in spring water, which means that its regular intake may lead to deficiency of these essential elements in the local population. A recent increase in bacterial contamination of spring water was primarily attributed to human economic activities. Conclusion: Judging by its trace levels of pollutants posing no health risks, spring water in Vladimir is not toxic. We still rec- ommend permanent cleaning of spring areas, improvement of groundwater collection facilities, and boiling of spring water before use.