Microbiological and Physicochemical Research of Thermal Spring and Mountain Spring Waters in the District of Sliven, Bulgaria

Abstract

Defined are the physicochemical properties of four healing non-thermal and thermal spring waters in the area of Sliven District, Bulgaria. The spring waters from the given four water sources are characterized by microbiological indicators and the pathogenic micro-organisms in the samples from the springs water sources mentioned above are determined by the membrane method. It is shown that according to 18 controlled parameters included in the study, the non-thermal healing spring “Hadji Dimitar” in the area of “Hot water” in the town of Shivachevo with water temperature 22.5ºC and the non-thermal spring “Gunchov spring” with water temperature 21.5ºC correspond to all controlled parameters according to Ordinance NO 9/2001, Official State Gazette, issue 30 and decree NO 178/23.07.2004 about the quality of water, intended for drinking purposes. It is established that that thermal healing spring Sliven mineral baths with water temperature 48ºC, healing spring Banya village with water temperature 37ºС meet the standard requirements. Non-thermal spring "Gunchov Spring", Sliven district with water temperature 21.5ºC does not meet the required microbiological parameters in regards to coli bacteria levels.