Hydrogeological conditions for the forming and quality of mineral waters in Serbia

In the past researches conducted on the territory of Serbia, 5 regional geotectonic units have been distinguished with registered occurrences of 230 mineral springs. Recent analyses of the bottled mineral waters quality have not included systematic examinations of micro-components present in these waters. Based on the analyses of the bottled mineral waters (EuroGeoSurveys Geochemistry Expert Group), it has been observed that the water quality is greatly influenced by the chemical composition of igneous intrusions, regardless of the fact that the analyzed waters have been taken from different aquifers (Neogene sediments, limestone, flysch, schist). Bottled waters in Serbia are usually HCO(3), with Na or Ca like dominant cation, and in large range regarding TDS. In some bottled waters high content of micro-components and trace elements was recorded. The analyses of mineral waters prove the direct dependence between the hydrochemical composition of waters and complex geological properties in which the formation and movement of waters have been taking place, throughout the geological history. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.