Sampling of microbial biomass is crucial for understanding and controlling remediation processes ongoing at contaminated sites in general, particularly when molecular genetic analyses are employed. In this study, fiber-based carriers with a nanofiber layer were developed and tested as a method to sample microbial biomass in groundwater for molecular genetic analysis. Nanofiber carriers, varying in the shape and the linear density of nanofibers, were examined throughout a 27-month monitoring period in groundwater contaminated with benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene isomers (BTEX), and chlorinated ethenes. The effect of carrier shape and nanofiber layer density on the microbial surface colonization and composition of the microbial biofilm was determined using real-time PCR and next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis. Differences in microbial community composition between nanofiber carriers, groundwater, and soil samples were also analyzed to assess the applicability of carriers for biomass sampling at contaminated sites. The nanofiber carriers showed their applicability as a sampling tool, particularly because of their easy manipulation that facilitates DNA isolation. The majority of taxa (Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes) present on the carrier surfaces were also detected in the groundwater. Moreover, the microbial community on all nanofiber carriers reflected the changes in the chemical composition of groundwater. Although the carrier characteristics (shape, nanofiber layer) did not substantially influence the microbial community on the carrier surface, the circular and planar carriers with a nanofiber layer displayed faster microbial surface colonization. However, the circular carrier was the most suitable for biomass sampling in groundwater because of its high contact area and because it does not require pre-treatment prior to DNA extraction.

• Klíčová slova
• Biomass carrier, Biomass sampling, Groundwater, Nanofibers, Next-generation sequencing, Real-time PCR,
• MeSH
• biodegradace MeSH
• biomasa MeSH
• chemické látky znečišťující vodu * analýza   MeSH
• nanovlákna * MeSH
• podzemní voda * MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• chemické látky znečišťující vodu * MeSH

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) in terrestrial groundwater is generally low in concentration compared to inland surface waters. However, the overall amount of groundwater DOM is huge, as there is 100 times more fresh groundwater than fresh surface water. To date, research on groundwater DOM has merely focused on specific threats to humans such as e.g. DOM and heavy metal complexations and DOM from hydrocarbon contamination. A comprehensive, large-scale study of groundwater is still missing. Here, we examine DOM properties in a large-scale approach with regards to surface characteristics such as land use and altitude, aquifer characteristics as well as microbial features. We analyzed 1600 water samples from 100 groundwater bodies all over Austria with regards to their DOM quantity, quality and bacterial abundance (BA). DOM quality was evaluated with self-organizing maps on fluorescence excitation-emission-matrices (EEMs) combined with Ward clustering and subsequent parallel factor analysis to describe DOM properties of each cluster. We evaluated how these clusters differed among each other, based on DOC and nitrate concentrations, BA and selected environmental characteristics. Our results show that fluorescence components in groundwater resemble components found in other groundwater studies, in studies from forest streams, the dark ocean, agricultural catchments and wastewater treatment plants. The latter fluorescence components were associated with a cluster that is characterized by agricultural and urban land use, as well as by high nitrate concentrations. Clusters with an increased abundance of high-molecular weight and humic components, commonly associated with vascular plant and soil origin, correlated with a higher bacterial abundance. This observation provides evidence that elevated numbers of suspended bacteria mainly originate from the surface. Our study shows that DOM fluorescence can be a fast monitoring tool to identify aquifers under anthropogenic stress and delineate sensitive recharge areas with high surface-groundwater interaction.

• Klíčová slova
• Austria, DOC, DOM, Groundwater,
• MeSH
• dusičnany analýza   MeSH
• fluorescenční spektrometrie MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• organické látky analýza   MeSH
• podzemní voda * MeSH
• půda MeSH
• rozpuštěná organická hmota * MeSH
• voda analýza   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• dusičnany MeSH
• organické látky MeSH
• půda MeSH
• rozpuštěná organická hmota * MeSH
• voda MeSH

Coastal lagoons deliver a wide range of valuable ecosystem goods and services. These ecosystems, that are often maintained by direct or indirect groundwater supplies, are collectively known as groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs). The importance of groundwater supplies is greatly exacerbated in coastal Mediterranean regions where the lack of surface water and the over-development of anthropogenic activities critically threaten the sustainability of coastal GDEs and associated ecosystem services. Yet, coastal GDEs do not benefit from a legal or managerial recognition to take into account their specificity. Particular attention should be paid to the characterization of environmental and ecological water requirements. The hydrogeological knowledge about the management and behavior of coastal aquifers and GDEs must be strengthened. These investigations must be supplemented by a stronger assessment of potential contaminations to develop local land-uses and human activities according to the groundwater vulnerability. The quantitative management of water resources must also be better supervised and/or more constrained in order to ensure the water needs necessary to maintain coastal GDEs. The transdisciplinary approach between hydrogeology, hydrology, social sciences and law is essential to fully understand the socio-economic and environmental complexity of coastal GDEs. Priority must now be given to the development of an appropriate definition of coastal GDEs, based on a consensus between scientists and lawyers. It is a necessary first step to develop and implement specific protective legislation and to define an appropriate management scale. The investment and collaboration of local water users, stakeholders and decision-makers need to be strengthened through actions to favor exchanges and discussions. All water resources in the coastal areas should be managed collectively and strategically, in order to maximize use efficiency, reduce water use conflicts and avoid over-exploitation. It is important to continue to raise public awareness of coastal aquifers at the regional level and to integrate their specificities into coastal zone management strategies and plans. In the global context of unprecedented anthropogenic pressures, hydro-food crises and climate change, environmental protection and preservation of coastal GDEs represents a major challenge for the sustainable socio-economic and environmental development of Mediterranean coastal zones.

• Klíčová slova
• Anthropogenic impact, Coastal aquifer, Coastal hydrosystems, Groundwater management, Mediterranean climate,
• MeSH
• ekosystém * MeSH
• hydrologie MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• podzemní voda * MeSH
• vodní zdroje MeSH
• zachování přírodních zdrojů MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

The article deals with simple methods of decontamination of groundwater from the vicinity of brownfields contaminated with organic and inorganic substances. In the literature, thousands of articles on this issue at various sophisticated levels of knowledge can be found. The articles are mostly suitable as an extension of scientific knowledge; however, regarding potential costs and respectively scale-up problems, the applications are limited. It turns out that the vast majority of contaminated water can be effectively decontaminated by simple methods, in a coagulation-sedimentation sequence → simple oxidation and reduction methods for separated water (Fenton reaction, photocatalysis, ozonation, reductive dehalogenation with zero metals) → adsorption of remaining pollutants on simple sorbents, eg on biochar → (possibly bioremediation or advanced physical methods such as membrane filtration) → final purification on activated carbon. Due to the usually limited volume loads of soils with pollutants in the vicinity of brownfields, it is not economically advantageous to build demanding decontamination units for water purification. Usually, the simplest solution is the system to pump-and-treat around the source of contamination, with the main emphasis on highly effective removal of pollutants from water that returns underground. Groundwater was taken from boreholes leading to the saturated zone in the vicinity of several selected industrial brownfields. The solutions are shown on individual typical cases.

• Klíčová slova
• Brownfield remediation, Electrocoagulation, Groundwater treatment, Photocatalysis, Zerovalent nano-iron,
• MeSH
• adsorpce MeSH
• biodegradace MeSH
• chemické látky znečišťující vodu * analýza   MeSH
• čištění vody * MeSH
• podzemní voda * MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• chemické látky znečišťující vodu * MeSH

Prometon, a major soil sterilant, and its main transformation products, deisopropylprometon (N(2)-isopropyl-6-methoxy-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine) and hydroxyprometon (4,6-bis(isopropylamino)-1,3,5-triazin-2-ol), were identified as the dominant triazine herbicides in groundwater samples from 51 locations in Colorado, USA, over a two-year time period. They were concentrated from water by solid phase extraction and detected using an ultrahigh pressure, liquid chromatography-quadrupole time of flight tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC/QTOF-MS). The transformation products, deisopropylprometon and hydroxyprometon, were confirmed using MS-MS experiments. An original strategy was applied to form the degradation standards for deisopropylprometon and hydroxyprometon, which consisted of photo-degradation of prometon followed by MS-MS analysis. The concentration of prometon ranged from the detection limit of 3 ng·L(-1) to 87 ng·L(-1), hydroxyprometon ranged up to 50 ng·L(-1), and deisopropylprometon up to 100 ng·L(-1), with a frequency of detection of 80%, which was greater than the other triazines detected in the groundwater samples. A new ratio is proposed for prometon degradation called the "deisopropylprometon to prometon ratio" or the DIP ratio, as an indicator of prometon residence time in groundwater. Furthermore, these data suggest that prometon is more of an issue for groundwater contamination in urban areas rather than agricultural areas.

• Klíčová slova
• Groundwater, Mass spectrometry, Prometon, Transformation Products,
• MeSH
• chemické látky znečišťující vodu analýza   MeSH
• chromatografie kapalinová MeSH
• extrakce na pevné fázi MeSH
• herbicidy analýza   MeSH
• limita detekce MeSH
• podzemní voda chemie   MeSH
• tandemová hmotnostní spektrometrie MeSH
• triaziny analýza   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Colorado MeSH
• Názvy látek
• chemické látky znečišťující vodu MeSH
• herbicidy MeSH
• prometone MeSH Prohlížeč
• triaziny MeSH

Long-term monitoring of the content of perchloroethylene (PCE) in a river ecosystem affected by groundwater contamination was performed at a site in the Czech Republic. The quality of surface water was monitored quarterly between 1994 and 2013, and fish were collected from the affected ecosystem to analyse the content of PCE in their tissue in 1998, 2011 and 2012. Concentrations of PCE (9-140 μg/kg) in the tissue of fish collected from the contaminated part of the river were elevated compared to the part of the river unaffected by the contamination (ND to 5 μg/kg PCE). The quality of surface water has improved as a result of groundwater remediation during the evaluated period. Before the remedial action, PCE concentrations ranged from 30 to 95 μg/L (1994-1997). Following commencement of remedial activities in September 1997, a decrease in the content of PCE in the surface water to 7.3 μg/L (1998) and further to 1 μg/L (2011) and 1.1 μg/L (2012) led to a progressive decrease in the average concentration of PCE in the fish muscle tissue from 79 μg/kg (1998) to 24 (2011) and 30 μg/kg (2012), respectively. It was determined that the bioconcentration of PCE does not have a linear dependence because the decrease in contamination in the fish muscle tissue is not directly proportional to the decrease in contamination in the river water. The observed average bioconcentration factors were 24 and 28 for the lower concentrations of PCE and 11 for the higher concentrations of PCE in the river. In terms of age, length and weight of the collected fish, weight had the greatest significance for bioconcentration, followed by the length, with age being evaluated as a less significant factor.

• Klíčová slova
• Bioconcentration, Fish tissue contamination, Groundwater clean-up, Groundwater contamination, Non-linear BCF, PCE, Surface water contamination,
• MeSH
• chemické látky znečišťující vodu analýza   MeSH
• ekosystém * MeSH
• monitorování životního prostředí metody   MeSH
• podzemní voda chemie   MeSH
• řeky chemie   MeSH
• ryby metabolismus   MeSH
• tetrachlorethylen analýza   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Názvy látek
• chemické látky znečišťující vodu MeSH
• tetrachlorethylen MeSH

Rising atmospheric temperature and CO2 impact all freshwater systems. In groundwater, one such impact is CO2- and temperature-induced weathering, which leads to more intense weathering of silicate rocks. Here, we tested whether the increased CO2 levels, the weathering, or rather the increasing temperature, impacted on fauna and prokaryotes in the groundwater ecosystem. We also conducted the analyses separately for two groups of wells, one of which contained wells that were secluded from the surface (and often rather deep), and wells tapping the quaternary aquifers (often rather shallow) which exchange with the surface more intensely. Organism abundances and relative composition did not correlate with temperature or CO2 levels. While many organisms rely on silica, in contrast, we found negative correlations between silica concentrations and fauna. The increases in silica concentrations over time, i.e. temporal trends, also partly correlated negatively with organisms. We hypothesize that the unexpected negative correlations are not direct effects, but indirectly indicate that groundwater communities do not adapt rapidly enough to changes in silica concentrations, but also more generally to changes for which silica might only be a proxy. Groundwater fauna take part in the ecosystem service of water self-cleaning and are thus considered beneficial for sustainable raw water for drinking water production. The propensity of groundwater fauna to decrease with increases in silica, jeopardizes future drinking water production.

• Klíčová slova
• Earth's critical zone, Fauna, Geological thermostat, Groundwater ecosystem, Prokaryotes, Weathering,
• MeSH
• atmosféra chemie   MeSH
• chemické látky znečišťující vodu analýza   MeSH
• klimatické změny MeSH
• monitorování životního prostředí * MeSH
• oxid křemičitý * MeSH
• oxid uhličitý * analýza   MeSH
• podzemní voda * chemie   MeSH
• teplota * MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• chemické látky znečišťující vodu MeSH
• oxid křemičitý * MeSH
• oxid uhličitý * MeSH

Groundwater is an essential freshwater source because traditional sources of freshwater, such as rainfall and rivers, are unable to provide all residential, industrial, and agricultural demands. Groundwater is replenished by different sources: rivers, canals, drains, and precipitation. This research aims to apply numerical models for a real case study (Bahr El Baqar drain) in the Eastern Nile aquifer to monitor groundwater quality due to the use of wastewater from drains directly in irrigation due to the shortage of freshwater in this area. In addition, the effect of over-pumping from the aquifer is studied to show the extent of contaminants in groundwater. Moreover, a management strategy was achieved through mixing treated wastewater with freshwater to reduce the contamination of groundwater and overcome water shortage. Visual MODFLOW is used to simulate groundwater flow and contaminant transport into the Eastern Nile aquifer (ENDA), Egypt. In this study, three stages including 15 scenarios (five scenarios for each stage) were settled to achieve the study objectives. The first stage was carried out to investigate the impact of using untreated wastewater for irrigation due to the shortage of freshwater in this area. The results of this stage showed that increasing the use of untreated wastewater increased the contamination of the aquifer. The average COD concentrations in the five scenarios reached 23.73, 33.76, 36.49, 45.13, and 53.15 mg/L. The second stage was developed to evaluate the impact of over-pumping and using untreated wastewater for irrigation due population increase and a reduction of freshwater in the Nile Delta. The results revealed that over-pumping has increased the contamination of the aquifer and the average COD concentrations increased to 25.3, 33.34, 40.66, 48.6, and 54.17 mg/L. The third stage was applied to investigate the impact of mixing treated wastewater with freshwater for irrigation to support the freshwater quantity. The results of this stage led to enhanced water quality in the aquifer and the average COD concentrations decreased to 20.26, 23.13, 26.03, 30, and 32.83 mg/L. The results showed that mixing freshwater with treated wastewater has a good influence on water quality, can be safely used in irrigation and reduces the effects on farmers' health and life.

• Klíčová slova
• drains, farmers’ health and life, groundwater quality, irrigation, wastewater,
• MeSH
• chemické látky znečišťující vodu * analýza   MeSH
• monitorování životního prostředí metody   MeSH
• odpadní voda analýza   MeSH
• podzemní voda * MeSH
• řeky MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Egypt MeSH
• Názvy látek
• chemické látky znečišťující vodu * MeSH
• odpadní voda MeSH

The production and use of chlorophenolic compounds in industry has led to the introduction of many xenobiotics, among them chlorophenols (CPs), into the environment. Five CPs are listed in the priority pollutant list of the U.S. EPA, with pentachlorophenol (PCP) even being proposed for listing under the Stockholm Convention as a persistent organic pollutant (POP). A green procedure for degrading such pollutants is greatly needed. The use of ferrate could be such a process. This paper studies the degradation of CPs (with an emphasis on PCP) in the presence of ferrate both in a spiked demineralized water system as well as in real contaminated groundwater. Results proved that ferrate was able to completely remove PCP from both water systems. Investigation of the effect of ferrate purity showed that even less pure and thus much cheaper ferrate was applicable. However, with decreasing ferrate purity, the degradability of CPs may be lower.

• Klíčová slova
• Chlorophenols, Complex contaminated water, Degradability, Fe(VI), Ferrate, Pentachlorophenol,
• MeSH
• chemické látky znečišťující vodu chemie   MeSH
• chlorfenoly chemie   MeSH
• čištění vody metody   MeSH
• podzemní voda chemie   MeSH
• železo chemie   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• hodnotící studie MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• chemické látky znečišťující vodu MeSH
• chlorfenoly MeSH
• ferrate ion MeSH Prohlížeč
• železo MeSH

Groundwater is the second largest water source for daily consumption, only next to surface water resources. Groundwater has been extensively investigated for its pollution level in urban areas. The groundwater quality assessments in industrial areas associated with every urban landscape are still lacking. This study was carried out in two industrial areas including Okhla and Mohan cooperative in New Delhi, India. The six groundwater samples were obtained for water quality assessment for 2015 and 2018. The heavy metals investigated in water samples were Cu, As, Pb, Mn, Ni, Zn, Fe, Cr, and Mn. The water quality was assessed in the heavy metals index (MI) and heavy metal pollution index (HPI). From indexing approach, it was observed that pollution levels have increased in year 2018 as compared to the year 2015. MI < 1 for Cu in 2015 and 2018 in both industrial areas. In the case of remaining metals, MI ranged from 2.5 to 8.4. When the HPI indexing approach was adopted, water was unfit for drinking in both industrial areas in 2015 and 2018, with an HPI value > 100. Non-carcinogenic risk assessment (HI) ranged from 1.7 to 1.9 in 2015, increasing from 17.41 to 217 in 2018, indicating high risk in both years. Carcinogenic risk (CR) was within the acceptable range for 48% of each heavy metal analysed sample. When the Carcinogenic risk index was considered (CRI), all samples were beyond the acceptable range, and every person was prone to carcinogenic risk in 2015.

• Klíčová slova
• Groundwater pollution, Hazard quotient index, Health risk assessment, Heavy metal, Industry, Water quality index,
• MeSH
• chemické látky znečišťující vodu * analýza   MeSH
• hodnocení rizik MeSH
• karcinogeny analýza   MeSH
• kvalita vody MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• monitorování životního prostředí MeSH
• podzemní voda * analýza   MeSH
• těžké kovy * analýza   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• chemické látky znečišťující vodu * MeSH
• karcinogeny MeSH
• těžké kovy * MeSH