Physicochemical Research of Mineral and Mountain Spring Waters in Bulgaria

In Bulgaria is observed a great variety of spring waters. They are mineral and mountain spring waters. According to their temperature they can be cold (up to 37° С), warm (from 37° C to 60° C) and hot (over 60° C). This is Bulgarian standard, European Union.

The mountain spring waters are cold with temperature up to 25° С.

In Bulgaria for drinking mineral and mountain spring waters are valid Ordinance No 9 / 2001, Official State Gazette, issue 30, and decree No. 178 / 23.07.2004.

By their chemical composition they fall into three categories – low mineralized (up to 2 g/L), moderately mineralized (2 to 15 g/L) and highly mineralized (15 – 30 g/L). According to their chemical composition the mineral waters are divided into sulphate, sulfide, hydrogen carbonate, chloride and carbonic. With regards to their gas composition they are nitrogen, sea and carbonic waters.

The objective of the current study is to show springs examined by physicochemical parameters and correspond 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 and household purposes.

In the current study mineral waters and mountain spring waters from mountain regions of Bulgaria have been studied. It is well known that in the mountain areas of Bulgaria live the most of long-living people and centenarians. The studies are conducted by microbiological laboratory of Trakia University, Stara Zagora headed by Nedyalka Valcheva, accredited laboratory Eurotest Control, and the laboratory of Scientific Research Center of Medical Biophysics.