Water quality of dug wells in two eco-villages: Visnyeszéplak and Gyűrűfű

Abstract

Nowadays, the good quality of underground water is crucial, especially in those settlements where there is no running water and the majority of the inhabitants get their water for everyday use from dug wells. In these areas, it is extremely important to avoid negative environmental impacts, as groundwater can easily become contaminated. We conducted research in areas where residents pay close attention to their environment and do not want to harm it. These two areas are Visnyeszéplak and Gyűrűfű, Hungary's two oldest eco-villages, where the residents practice nature friendly and chemical-free farming and chemical-free lifestyles are also characteristic of their lifestyle. Both sample areas are located in the southwestern part of Hungary, in the Zselic region, as part of Visnye and Ibafa settlements. About 150–180 people, i.e. 35–39 families live in Visnyeszéplak, and 20–30 people, i.e. about 10 families, live in Gyűrűfű. In Visnyeszéplak all the families have dug wells except one, and in Gyűrűfű four families have a dug well. Between October 2020 and November 2021, a total of 34 dug wells (Visnyeszéplak: 30; Gyűrűfű: 4) were examined on 7 occasions based on 8 parameters (temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, nitrite, nitrate, ammonium, phosphate). In all cases, the measurements were made on site using a photometer, pH meter, dissolved oxygen meter, conductivity meter and temperature meter. For the evaluation of the results, the 201/2001. (X. 25.) Government Decree on the quality requirements of drinking water and procedure of inspection, as well as the limit values included in the government decree on groundwater (6/2009. (IV. 14.)) were used as a basis. Nitrate, nitrite and ammonium showed results different from the values specified in the regulations. In the case of Visnyeszéplak, almost half of the water in the wells was above the limit in terms of nitrate, while the same was only 25% for Gyűrűfű. In the case of ammonium, only third of the wells in Visnyeszéplak fourth of the wells in Gyűrűfű were above the limit. In the case of nitrite, the results were the most favorable, because in none of the settlements was the average value above the limit value. Based on this, we can say that long-term contamination (nitrate) is less important in Gyűrűfű than in Visnyeszéplak, but in the case of values showing recent contamination (ammonium, nitrite) both areas proved to be similarly good. It is important to point out that, based on the results, the cause and source of the pollution cannot be determined for sure, but it can presumably be related to previous pollution, as well as the current wastewater treatment, animal husbandry and garden farming.