<i>In-situ</i> Assessment of Rural Physic-Chemical Groundwater Quality from the North-East of Romania

The current survey aimed to analyse the water quality from wells in a rural area situated in the north-east of Romania, comprising the main water source for human consumption in the area. 80 wells were analysed for total dissolved solids, which was used as the main indicator of water quality and followed by measurements of dissolved oxygen and saturation, salinity, conductivity, redox potential and pH . For comparison, the values of these parameters were also measured in the water from the public network of the cities of Iasi and Botosani, as well as in various brands of bottled water. The results highlighted important water quality issues in rural areas, especially in terms of microbiological contamination and high nitrate levels, urging the need for future measures to improve the local infrastructure and water treatment systems. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the challenges related to ensuring drinking water in rural communities and provide a basis for developing effective public policies in water resources management.