Published in Scientific Papers. Series E. Land Reclamation, Earth Observation & Surveying, Environmental Engineering, Vol. XIV
Written by Alexander PETROV, Svetla STOYKOVA, Diyana DERMENDZHIEVA, Gergana KOSTADINOVA, Milen STOYANOV, Georgi PETKOV, Stefka BOYANOVA, Georgi BEEV

Groundwater, a vital resource in Bulgaria, is increasingly at risk of contamination from anthropogenic activities. A study in the Stara Zagora district for a year, situated in an area with strong anthropogenic pressure (urbanization, 4 TPPs, open-pit mining of lignite coal, large military training ground, intensive agriculture) assessed the groundwater quality of 6 wells (Ws) and 6 springs (Ss), based on 48 samples, analyzing 11 physicochemical (colour, taste, odour, pH, EC, TH, Cl^-, SO₄^2-, NH₄⁺, NO₃^-, and OM) and 3 bacteriological (AMO, E.coli and Enterococci) parameters. The groundwater partly meets the Bulgarian standards as a natural resource (W1, W2 - summer, autumn and winter, W3 - summer and winter, S1, S2, S5 - autumn, and S6) and as a source for drinking (W1 and S2 - except for spring, W2 - except for spring and autumn, S1 and S6 - except for summer, autumn and winter). The deviation from the norms of groundwater as a natural resource results from pollution with NH₄⁺, NO₃ and OM, and for drinking purposes: with Е. coli, enterococci, AMO, OM, NH₄⁺ and NO₃. Agriculture and livestock waste were identified as major pollution sources. Many positive and negative Pearson correlations existed between controlled groundwater parameters. Immediate treatment of contaminated Ws and Ss, and regular monitoring and health risk assessments are essential to mitigate groundwater pollution and ensure safe water for consumption.

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