Considerations Regarding Pollution Sources and their Effects on the Romanian Sector of the Danube

Abstract:

The Danube River is the most valuable ecosystem in the European natural environment. One third of the surface of the basin and half of the length of the navigable course is found on the territory of Romania. The paper aims to identify the sources of pollution existing on the Romanian sector of the Danube and the effects produced by them with an impact on altering the quality of the Danube water. The data submitted are prepared on the basis of information made available by the Territorial Administrative Units having jurisdiction sectors of the Danube River and observations, records existing in the databases of the competent authorities. Thus, the Danube is a waterway, a source of drinking water supply for the population, an important source for the irrigation system in agriculture, a source of water supply for various systems and installations in industry and last but not least, the collector of wastewater from these activities. In addition, the Danube is also the natural habitat for many species of animals and plants. The sources of pollution affecting the Danube's water quality are the most diverse and come from all fields: naval transport, industrial production units, agriculture, human agglomerations. The investments made during the last years in the modernization of existing treatment plants and the construction of new ones in the localities bordering the Danube, lead to a decrease in pollution by treating wastewater collected and processed in these plants. The consistent monitoring and in accordance with the legal provisions in force of all potentially polluting activities, the optimization of loading and unloading operations of goods in the terminals on the Romanian territory of the Danube, the handling and transport of dangerous goods in compliance with the most demanding requirements has led to an increase in the quality of the Danube water, which is of good quality, as appreciated by specialists in the field. The modernization of inland waterway vessels, continuous monitoring of the quality of wastewater discharged by industrial production units, the quality of domestic wastewater from human agglomerations, the consumption of pesticides in agriculture contributed to achieving this quality, among others.

• Periodical: Advances in Science and Technology (Volume 163)
• Pages: 99-108
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-p7IZkX
• Online since: May 2025
• Authors: Ionel Baloșin*, Constantin Florescu, Marius Criveanu, Iulian Ştefan
• Keywords: Agriculture, Danube, Human Agglomerations, Industry, Pollution Sources, River Basin, Ships

References

[1] Gh. Iurașcu, Eugen Huhulescu, Ion Ţigaret, Danube Ports, Cuget Liber Publishing House, Bucharest, 2003, ISBN-973-0-02861-3.

[2] Joszef Ujvari (1972) - Geography of Romanian Waters.

[3] Report of navigation accidents for the year 2020, Naval Authority Romanian, doc. 25765 of 16.03.2021 (http://www.rna.ro).

[4] Report of navigation accidents for the year 2021, Romanian Naval Authority, doc. 27144 of 11.04.2022 (http://www.rna.ro).

[5] Flood Risk Management Plan – Danube River, updated.

[6] National Institute of Statistics, INS 2022, Water distribution and wastewater discharge, in the year 2021 – Statistical information.

[7] Elisa-Florina PLOPEANU, Experimental research on the capture and valorization of fine-grained oxidic waste generated in the ceramic and refractory materials industry, PhD thesis summary, Bucharest Polytechnic University, 2020.

[8] Romanian Waters National Administration, Jiu Water Basin Administration, communication no. 15547/22.09.2023. (http://www.rowater.ro/dajiu).

[9] https://www.viadonau.org

[10] www.zigzag.ro

[11] https://www.hidroconstructia.com