IDENTIFICATION OF POSSIBLE SURFACE WATERS AS DRINKABLE WATER SOURCES IN CASE OF NATURAL DISASTERS IN ROMANIA

摘要

Providing adequate water is critical for survival in the initial stage of a natural disaster. The impact of natural hazards such as hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, landslides and droughts, frequently results in contaminated potable water sources with direct impact on local population health. Therefore, to save the drinking water supply, alternative sources are needed. In this paper we discuss the possibility of unrestricted use of the renewable surface waters for drinking water supply in case of flood, the most dangerous natural disaster that occurs in Romania every year. The analysis of the relevant parameters (chemical and microbiological) showed that contaminated freshwaters (inland rivers, lakes, the Danube river) or seawaters (the Black sea) could be relevant in case of this natural disaster by applying of an optimised and low-cost process of water purification such as desalination. In conclusion, in areas where rivers and sea exist they could be an interesting alternative for regional aquifers, which are affected by natural disasters like floods and can become an importance on strategic concepts for risk management.