changes of the physicochemical composition in the water from water intakes on rural areas of kluczborski county

Due to a lack of centralized water supply network on rural areas, the main source of water for household use are shallow dug wells. The quality of water taken in this way is not a subject of law regulations in Poland which are connected with quality of water taken for human consumption, which is the reason why this kind of water do not often meet the standards. Wells that are no longer exploited by taking water for living purposes because of households’ connection to the central water supply, are becoming a problem The paper presents the results of physicochemical composition of water samples taken from shallow dug wells located on the rural areas. The concentrations of mineral forms of nitrogen, i.e. nitrates, nitrites further the concentrations of ammonia nitrogen and phosphate were analysed. Additionally, changes of pH and conductivity were measured. In the case of nitrate and nitrite highest concentrations exceeding the standards contained in the Regulation of the Minister of Health were observed in wells 1 and 3. During the study period, seasonal variation of concentrations of ammonium nitrogen were observed as reflected in the increase of the parameter in winter months. Ammonium was also an indicator whose concentrations exceeded regulated norms at least once during the research period in each of the tested wells. Phosphates concentrations in the analyzed samples were at the level 0.12–0.17 mg PO₄/dm³.