ASSESSMENT OF ANTHROPOGENIC EFFECTS UPON WATER AND SOIL IN THE VILLAGE CARBUNA OF THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA

A study of the village Carbuna located in the Ioloveni District in Moldova was done over the course of two weeks in June-July, 2019. The purpose of this preliminary study was to determine the quality of the water and soil, in order to analyze the implications of Carbuna’s agricultural economy and the rural infrastructure of the village. The lack of a water treatment system and testing of water supplies allowed for the accumulation of anthropogenic pollution in groundwater and surface water. In this preliminary study, forty-six (46) groundwater wells mostly dug wells were identified, thirteen (13) of which were analyzed and one (1) surface water supply was analyzed in the field for the physical and chemical parameters including pH, ORP (Oxidation-reduction potentials) color, total dissolved solids, temperature, electrical conductivity, salinity, total alkalinity, oxygen, silica, iron, sulfate, manganese, chloride, total chlorine, inorganic phosphate, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and chromate. Filtered and unfiltered samples were collected and transferred to the United States (NY) Laboratory for further detailed analysis. Both on-site and in-lab data showed that most of the shallow groundwater samples contain high level of nitrate-nitrogen and total dissolved solid suggesting potential contamination from sewer sources caused by poor management and farming practices.

Biological parameters for fecal indicator bacteria (FIBs) were tested from selected wells and surface water consistently showed alarming level of E. Coli and Total Coliform in the water containing high level of nitrate.

Soil quality was also assessed by measuring soil nutrients including nitrogen and phosphorous by using LaMotte soil testing kits on-site. Nitrogen and phosphorous level were found to be within the normal range in most of the soils samples with circumneutral pH. The dried soils were also run by X-ray Fluorescence Spectrophotometer for toxic metals including RCRA hazardous metals and consistently showed below the permissible limit. This study of texture and chemical analysis enable us to understand the capacity of Carbuna organic rich soils to function, within natural ecosystem limitations, to sustain plant productivity, and support human health and habitation.