Exploration and Investigation of High-Level Radon Medicinal Springs in the Crystalline Units: Lugicum

Radioactive (radon) groundwaters are highly valued among mineral waters for their healing effects. Between 2005 and 2015, a large exploratory event for prospecting and documenting radon water springs took place in the crystalline area of Lugicum (Bohemian Massif) under Czech–Polish cooperation. For these purposes, an exploration method was developed as a combination of GIS (ArcMap 9.1–10.2) area preparation followed by field radiohydrogeochemical mapping at a scale of 1:10,000. The gamma indication method was optimized and used for the selection of water samples. A total of 2354 water sources were examined. Radon activity concentrations were measured at 660 sources found throughout the territory. Of those, 111 sources exhibited 222Rn activity above 1500 Bq/L and, thus, were categorized as sources of mineral radioactive waters according to Czech legislation. The highest 222Rn activity was found in the Michael spring near Nové Město pod Smrkem (up to 6237 Bq/L 222Rn). Many discovered sources with high balneological potential are significant and, therefore, are quickly becoming popular among the public.

Participatory Landscape Design and Water Management—A Sustainable Strategy for Renovation of Vernacular Baths and Landscape Protection in Szeklerland, Romania

Szeklerland is a historical-ethnic region located on the eastern border of the Carpathian Basin, in the central region of Romania. In Szeklerland, thanks to its varied topography and a network of small settlements, landscape management is still carried out using traditional methods. Szeklerland is a macro-region rich in natural resources. Among its natural treasures, the mineral water springs with healing properties are of particular importance: around 40 percent of Romania’s mineral water resources are found here. This richness in hydrogeological features is due to the fact that the post-volcanic activities in the young tertiary mountain ranges in the region still produce large quantities of carbon dioxide, which dissolves beneficial minerals from the earth. When dissolved in water, these minerals produce mineral waters that can be used to cure various types of diseases. For centuries, the medicinal properties of the mineral waters of Szeklerland have been regularly used by the local population. In addition to their consumption, small and larger vernacular baths were built in the settlements with medicinal springs, and their regular use led to the development of a traditional, local cold-water bathing culture in the region. However, the vernacular baths were destroyed in the world wars, and their traditional use was abolished by the apparatus of the 20th century communist regime, which had no respect to natural and cultural heritage. After the political change in 1989, the attention of the society turned back to tradition and values. Alongside (or as part of) nature and landscape conservation initiatives, the reinterpretation and restoration of the intangible and practical values of vernacular baths in Szeklerland also began. Over the past decades, the renovation of vernacular baths, which started as a professional–civic initiative, has grown into an independent heritage conservation programme: dozens of vernacular baths have been renovated in Szeklerland over the past twenty years with public participation initiated and led by professionals. In the course of the renovations, baths used by local communities have been rebuilt using nature- and environment-friendly techniques, materials and in a way that they are also related to the physical environment and the mythology of the region. The project has won prestigious awards both in Romania and internationally, and has become a successful and exemplary movement in landscape heritage conservation.

Development of a Distributed Mathematical Model and Control System for Reducing Pollution Risk in Mineral Water Aquifer Systems

The article is devoted to the problem of the growing need of the mineral water fields’ exploitation process automation. The implementation of control systems and mathematical modeling methods can significantly reduce the fields’ structural integrity violation and pollution of aquifers risks. This research is especially relevant for the fields with difficult conditions of mineral waters occurrence, since the insufficient accuracy of determining the fields’ operating mode parameters can lead to a severe incident. The article describes a distributed mathematical model developed from the geo-filtration equation. Based on this model, a new method for assessing the mutual influence of the fields, the production of which is carried out from one aquifer, is presented. For a more detailed study of the operating mode parameters influence on the object a physical model of the reservoir was developed. The using of Arduino sensors and the developed software allows us to construct a 3D graph of the input action and its response at the different points of the object as temperature distribution. The simulation results make it possible to use the proposed model for the automatic control system synthesis.

Economic-Ecological Principles and the Question of Mineral Waters in Brazil

The present study addresses the issue of mineral waters in Brazil, its institutional problem, and the consequences and conflicts arising from its irrational exploitation. As a solution to these problems and conflicts, it is proposed to integrate these mineral waters and their different types in the management of water resources and the application of guiding economic and ecological principles as in the case of the conception of post-normal science and the precautionary principle. To meet the objective, the authors opted for an exploratory and bibliographical research regarding the adopted procedure. It is concluded that the implementation of an institutional change will allow a participative and polycentric management, mainly at the level of the hydrographic basin committees, which will contribute to the application of the two mentioned principles and a sustainable management of this resource. However, there is a need for improvements in the national water resources policy to more effectively cover groundwater in which mineral waters are embedded.

Mineral waters and sediments of the ferruginous spring Ulan-Bulak Urulyunguevsky (South-Eastern Transbaikalia, Russia)

The data on the chemical composition and content of balneological components (Fe, H2SiO3, CO2, S2-) for three water samples from the Ulan-Bulak acidic ferruginous spring are presented. For the first time, carbonic water was released in the composition of the spring waters, the origin of which is explained by the ingress of hydrocarbonate water into an acidic medium, followed by dissociation according to the HCO3 - + H+ → H2CO3 → H2O + CO2 scheme. An acidic environment is formed as a result of oxidation of sulfide mineralization, presumably gold-bearing. From secondary minerals at the spring, modern sulfate minerals (gypsum, jarosite), hydromica (illite) were found, ocher sediments are widely developed. Given the uncertain nature of the formation of the spring waters, it is considered worthy of special studies, including an inspection of the presence of sulfide mineralization.

Hydrochemical Characterization of Nabeghlavi Underground Mineral Waters

Georgia is rich in groundwater deposits, which renew over time and are characterized by the best indicators of water quality and a stable regime. Groundwater is one of the main natural productive forces of Georgia, which plays an important role in the economic development and export industry. During 2015–2020, chemical composition of the Nabeghlavi mineral waters has been studied by the means of the modern unified methods. Almost all data from previous chemical analyzes have also been retrieved and systematized/collated. Using mathematical statistical analysis, the maximum, minimum, and mean arithmetic values of the major and specific components of water and the empirical deviation from the arithmetic mean have been calculated. Though comparison of the recent and historic data on chemical composition, based on the results of statistical analysis of the major ions, the natural fluctuation limits of the waters and stability of waters from all exploitation drill holes have been shown. According to the chemical composition and total mineralization there are three groups of waters in fresh and low mineralized category. It is shown that chemical composition of water from all exploitation drill holes meets requirements for the natural mineral water category, both the normative document of Georgia and directive of the European Commission.

An Overview of Hydrogeological Works at Nabeghlavi Mineral Water Deposit and Replenishment of the Natural Resources of the Deposit by Atmospheric Precipitation

Mineral waters are very important resources of the country. Their moderate consumption and protection is possible through sustainable and efficient management. The paper presents an overview of hydrogeological works carried out on the Nabeghlavi carbonic mineral water deposit. Information on calculation of the natural resource replenishment coefficient with atmospheric precipitation based on the hydrogeological and meteorological data and characterization of geological-technical condition of exploitation drill holes is described. Coefficient of replenishment of the Nabeghlavi mineral water resources with infiltrated atmospheric precipitation has been determined by Darcy’s method. According to the reference historic data, back in 1986, the magnitude of the coefficient was 25,307 m3/ day, whereas in 2000-2020 it has equated 28,125 m3/day. Conventional average of these values made 26,715 m3/day, which is 90 times higher than the current approved operating reserve (296 m3/day) of the deposit.