The impact of climatic parameters on the turbidity and natural organic matter content in drinking water in the City of Bor (Eastern Serbia)

Periods with rainfall and rapid snow melting or their simultaneous occurrence are very important for good water quality. Such periods lead to a rapid increase in turbidity as well as the natural organic matter quantity in water. Chlorine as a disinfectant builds the toxic disinfection by-products with the natural organic matter that are harmful to human health. Data monitoring allows the prediction of deterioration of the water quality at the source depending on the climatic parameters. Water supply sources in the catchment area of the Beljevina River, operated by the Bor Water Utility, are an example of well-thought-out monitoring of water quality and quantity, which is a major contributor to the superior public water supply. Given the fundamental role played by turbidity and the lack of studies concerning its magnitude at karst groundwater, the current study has introduced an assessment of this parameter. Consequently, the system of turbidity control is necessary, especially if there is no system to remove turbidity from raw water. Data presented in this paper are a result of the monitoring of the Zlot water supply source used as the supply and distribution system in the City of Bor. The results indicate that the effect of air temperature had a dominant impact on snowmelt, turbidity and water level in the Beljevina River after 2 days. Also, the results showed a significant positive correlation between turbidity and potassium permanganate consumption. Monitoring data of these parameters over a long period will allow the establishment of a simulation model for short-term prediction of turbidity or any other water quality parameters.