Emergency environmental issue solved with Klarwin reverse osmosis system – Cluj, Romania

The Pata Rât Municipal dump, near Cluj, occupies an area of 8.96 ha with 400.000 m³ waste/year stored. The dump surface is unbalanced, with waste deposit heights ranging from 3 -15 m, dump slopes exceeding 45°, forming embankments near the Zăpodie stream, which is 2-10 m away.The poor physical stability of the landfill and strong precipitation in summer 2017 resulted in sliding of parts of waste over the Zăpodie stream and the communal road.  The Cluj authorities have declared the situation an environmental emergency due to contamination of surface and ground waters.

Measurements of pH in surface water and leachate signify alkaline water

Six samples from Zăpodie stream and leachate were taken each month, starting January until May 2012 [1]. The pH values show a slightly alkaline water, but within the limits imposed by 161/2006 Governmental Order regarding the surface waters. Below is represented the variation in pH of a sample from Zăpodie stream, approximately 200 m after the landfill, in 5 months.The leachate has a pH between 8.01 to 8.79 pH units, with a strongly alkaline reaction, which is usual for landfills in the first two years of operation.

Extreme values of dissolved solids in surface water require fast actions

Romanian legislation does not provide restrictions for conductivity (EC) and total dissolved solids (TDS) in natural water, but sample analysis results show increased values than usual. The stream water EC is up to 20 times bigger than the usual limit of 1000 µS/cm [2], found in literature, which indicates severely polluted water. The TDS values were up to 27 times larger than usual TDS value in fresh water [3], signifying change in ionic composition of water. Below is represented the variation in TDS and EC from Zăpodie stream, approximately 200 m after the landfill, in 5 months.High concentration of Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions in the surface water has negative impact on the aquatic fauna.