Hydrogeological Considerations in the Arges County Area,

Romania
Ctlina RADU, Mihai RADESCU, Emil RADU
National Institute of Hydrology and Water Management,
Bucharest, Romania
catalina.radu@hidro.ro; mradescu@yahoo.com; emil.radu@hidro.ro

Abstract
The research made in the study area emphasized the presence of groundwater on the entire
territory of the Arges County, but in different quantitative and qualitative conditions, depending
on the local geomorphological and geological conditions.
The exploration or exploitation hydrogeological drills executed in the area, showed the
existence of two aquifers: phreatic and depth.
The most important aquifers in the study area are localized in the superior-quaternary Romanian
deposits and are mainly developing south from Curtea de Arges.
The paper presents geological, hydrogeological and hydrochemical general considerations and a
detailed analysis of the variation in the piezometric levels and Nitrates contents of the phreatic
aquifer from the Arges County.
Key words: phreatic aquifer, depth aquifer, piezometric level, nitrate content.

General data on the study area

The Arges County is situated in the central-southern part of the country (Figure 1).
From the geomorphological point of view, in the
Arges County we can notice a harmonious distribution
of the relief forms (Fig 1). More than half of the surface
of the county is occupied by sub-Carpathian hills and
piedmontane plateaus and approximately 25% of the
surface is the montane area. In the South of the study
area there is a flat relief, the plain.
The placement of the relief forms is made in parallel
areas, oriented on the West-East direction,
descending in steps from North to South. The
placement of the relief units was determined by the
morpho-structural and lithological conditions.
Figure 1. Location of the Arges County
on the Romanian Map

The hydrographic network from the study area is

tributary to the Arges River, the most important
water course in the region.

Geological considerations
The territory of the Arges County is overlapping on a complex area from a geological point of view.
(Figure 2).
In the northern part of the county, the mountain area is made up by mezzo and epimetamorphic
schists belonging to the supragetic units (the Fagaras Nappe). These formations are overlapped over
the crystalline of the Getic Nappe, which in its turn, comes into contact of tectonic superposition with
the Leresti-Tamas crystalline from the Leaota-Bucegi-Piatra Mare unit (belonging to the Crystalline
Mesozoic Area from the Oriental Carpathians) along the Iezer Papusa fault line.
The completion of the tectonic arrangement of the Crystalline-Mesozoic Area of the Southern
Carpathians and its rising under the form of a folded system, after the tectonic movements from the
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Laramic phase, determined the apparition in front of it of a depressionary area which took over the
function of sedimentation basin, evolving as an foredeep.

Figure 2. Geological map of the Arges County

(after Geological Map of Romania sc. 1:200000, elaborated by Geological
Institute of Romania)

In its current structure, it makes up what was called the Getic Depression and lies from the Targului
Valley area until the Danube Valley. To the South, the Getic Depression comes into contact with the
Moesic Platform, along the peri-Carpathian fault line. (Figure 3)
The Getic Depression individualized as structural geological unit in the Upper Volhinian, as a result of
the Moldavian tecto-genetic phase, when the formations of the Getic Depression went over the
formations of the Moesic Platform evolving together.
The supply source with terrigen material was the Crystalline-Mesozoic Area which was rising.
The sedimentation process was not continuous, and 2 discontinuities are known which are regional:
one in the Lower Miocene and another one in the Volhinian. These discontinuities delimit three
sedimentation cycles within the deposit stockpile which constitutes the filling of the Getic Depression:
the Paleocene sedimentation cycle, which ends with the Lower Burdigalian ;
the Upper Burdigalian Lower Sarmatian sedimentation cycle;
the Middle Sarmatian Pliocene sedimentation cycle.

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The Dacian Deposits are disposed in sedimentation continuity over the Pontian ones (which outcrop
north from Curtea de Arges). Based on the paleontological content it is believed that in this area only
the Lower and Upper Dacian is developing.
The Roman Deposits, with
a thickness of 150 200 m,
ends the Pliocene suite,
disposed in sedimentation
continuity over the Dacian
deposits, are made of, in
the lower part, sands, clays
and
marls
with
intercalations of coal and
fresh water fauna debris.

Figure 3. The development of Romanian-Lower Pleistocene Aquifer

in the Moesic Platform and Getic Depression (after M.Bretotean)

The Middle Romanian

Lower Pleistocene interval
is represented by the
Candesti Formation. This is
made from sands and
gravel, separated by clay or
marl intercalations.

The Candesti Formation

goes towards the South to
sandy deposits, with gravel
lenses, which make up the Fratesti Formation. They were deposed starting with the Upper Romanian,
possible until the beginning of the Middle Pleistocene.
The Romanian and inferior Pleistocene formations have small slopes towards south, until the flex line,
which marks the limit with the Moesic Platform (Figure 3).
Over the Candesti Formation, in the Getic Depression, there is an alternance of sands, seldom
gravels, clays and marls, locally sandy, attributed to the Middle Pleistocene.
The Arges terrace deposits, made of coarse sands, gravels and boulders were attributed to the Middle
Pleistocene Holocene.
Hydrogeological and hydrochemical considerations
From the hydrogeological point of view, research made in the study area emphasized the
presence of groundwater on the entire territory of the Arges County, but in different quantitative
and qualitative conditions, depending on the local geomorphological and geological conditions.
In the crystalline mounts (especially the Fagaras and Iezer Mountains) the water from
precipitations is stored in fractures and cracks. These areas also constitute circulation routes,
groundwater appearing at the surface under the form of springs. The multiannual module mean
discharge of groundwater runoff varies between 3 and 11 l/s/km2, and the mineralization degree
is generally low (J. Ujvari, 1972).
Also, in the montane area, groundwater can be stored in the thick gravel deposits from the
glacial calderas and valleys, where they discharge under the form of springs.
In the Piatra Craiului Mount and the Bran Rucar Corridor, the presence of limestones and
Mesozoic calcareous conglomerates, strongly tectonized and fissured, ensures the storage of
important groundwater quantities. Thus, at the limit between Arges and Brasov Counties, there
is a karstic-fissural aquifer, situated in the limestones, conglomerates, sandstones and marls of
the Jurassic - Cretaceous age in the Piatra Craiului Mountains. It discharges under the form of
springs, with discharges that vary between 0.38 and 800 l/s.
Within the Sub-Carpathian area, made up from Neocene molasses deposits, with intercalations
of gypsum and salt rocks, there are numerous saltwater springs, whose presence is attested by
toponimy (Salt Water, Slanic River and village, etc.).
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The exploration or exploitation hydrogeological drillholes executed in the area, showed the
existence of two aquifers: phreatic and depth. The most important aquifers in the study areas are
focused in the Upper Romanian Quaternary deposits, which are developed south from Curtea
de Arges.
North from Curtea de Arges, the Quaternary deposits, made of gravels and sands, contains a
phreatic aquifer, with reduced development, along the main water courses which descend from
the mountains (Arges, Valsan, Raul Doamnei).
South from Curtea de Arges the phreatic aquifer is localized in alluvial deposits, of Upper Pleistocene
Holocene age, in the meadows and terraces of the water courses, as well as in the interfluves.
They were identified aquifers in the Pitestilor Plain area, in the meadows and terraces of the Arges
River, as well as on the meadows and terraces of the Neajlov River, the Teleorman and Cotmeana
Rivers.
They were separated depending on the geological age of the formations in which the aquifer is
located, their petrographic and structural characteristics, as well as the hydrodinamics of the
groundwater.
From the lithological point of view, the deposits that are contain the phreatic aquifer are made of finemedium sands, locally argillaceous or siltic, sands with gravels and subordinately, from sands with
gravels and boulders.
The covering layer has variable thicknesses, being represented by soil (argillaceous or sandy), clay,
siltic clay, argillaceous loess, loess with calcareous concretions.
The piezometric level varies between 15 and 40 m in the interfluve area, 14 m in the terrace area and
between 0.3 and 9 m in the meadow.
The hydraulic conductivity (K) varies between 1 100 m/day, and the transmissivity values (T) and
specific yield (q) are situated around 50 500 m2/day, respectively 0.5 4 l/s/m. The efficient
infiltration (water quantity from precipitations which gets into the aquifer) is approximately 30 90
mm/year.
The flow direction is generally NV SE, excepting the west of Arges hills and the north of the
Cotmeana Plateau where it is NE SV (Figure 4).
The depth aquifer is localized in the study area, in the deposits considered of Middle Pleistocene
age. Based on the lithological build up and the piezometric levels, within the depth aquifer there
were separated two complexes: superior and inferior.
The superior aquifer complex, which is developing until the depth of 50 120 m and the inferior
aquifer complex developed immediately under the first complex, until the depth of 250 300 m,
constitute important resources for the water supply.
The piezometric surface of the superior aquifer is with approximately 20 m above the piezometric
surface of the inferior aquifer, in the North part of the study area and with approximately 10 m, in the
South part.
The filtration characteristics of the two aquifer complexes also present differences, the superior aquifer
complex, as a consequence of a rawer lithological component, having the hydraulic conductivity
values comprised approximately between 5 and 34 m / day, while the inferior aquifer complex has in
general, lower values, of approximately 0.6 9 m/day.
The piezometric level of the inferior aquifer complex is ascensional ( 2 7 m ) sometimes artesian
(Maracineni, Pitesti area ). This is an aquifer with good potential, the specified yield having values
of 3 6 l/s/m. The hydraulic conductivity ( k ) vary between 10 and 80 m/day, and the transmitivity
(T ) has values of 200 400 m2/day.
From qualitative point of view, the groundwater from the two aquifer complexes correspond to the
quality standards, the contents which are higher in Fe and Mn, recorded on local plan, are due to the
natural geo chemical background.
These depth aquifers present a reduced vulnerability at pollution, but in some cases they can stand
quantitative overstressing, like in the case of some local catching systems, for the water supply of
some big urban agglomeration.

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The piezometric level variation analysys of the phreatic aquifer

The current piezometric map of the phreatic aquifer was made on the basis of the absolute altitude
values of the medium multiannual levels for the period 1975-2005.
The
phreatic
groundwater
variation
from the study area is
produced under the
conjugal influence of the
constant
factors
(geomorphology,
lithological
and
geological
structure)
and variable (climatic,
hydrological
and
antrophic).
The
piezometric
level
oscillations
are
reflecting the recharge
and discharge process
of the aquifer layer
under the influence of
these factors.
The
aquifer
layer
recharge
(the
piezometric
level
increase) is made from:
precipitations, surface
waters,
underground
afflux,
ascensional
drainage, and from the
hydrotechnical systems
losses.

Figure 4. Map of the piezometric level of phreatic aquifer in the Arges

County area

The
aquifer
layer
discharge
(the
piezometric
level
decrease) is produced
by: the surface waters,
the exploitation systems
of the groundwaters,
underground defflux and
through
descendant
drainage.

In the area of Pitesti plain the piezometric level of this aquifer is situated at very big depths (between
15 and 40 m) in comparison with the piezometric level of the phreatic aquifer localized in the alluvial
deposits from the terraces and meadows.
The hydraulic conductivity ( K ) vary between 1 and 30 m/day, and the transmitivity values ( T ) and
specific yield ( q ) are situated around the values of 100 m2/day, respectively and 1 l/s/m. The efficient
infiltration (the water quantity resulted from the precipitations which penetrate the aquifer) is of
approximately 30 mm/year.
The piezometric level of the phreatic aquifer from the Neajlov terrace and meadow vary between 0.30
m and 9.65 m, the hydraulic conductivity ( K ) between 6 and 164 m/day, the transmitivity values ( T )
between 28 and 950 m2/ day, and the specific discharge ( q ) between 0.13 and 12 l/s/m.

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In the terrace and meadow areas of the Teleorman river the hydraulic conductivity ( K ) vary between
20 and 100 m/day, and the transmitivity values ( T ) and the specific yield ( q ), between 50 and 500 m2/
day and 2 and 3 l/s/m. The efficient infiltration has values comprises between 30 and 60 mm/year.
The phreatic aquifer from the terrace and the meadow of the Cotmeanca river from the afferent area of
Arges county has a piezometric level which vary from 3.5 m in the meadow area, until 14.5 m in the
terrace area. The hydraulic conductivity ( K ) has values comprised between 16.30 and 25.30 m/day,
and the transmitivity values ( T ) and specific yield ( q ) between 30 and 97 m2/ day, and between 0.5
and 1.85 l/s/m.
In the Arges meadows and terraces, the county main water course, the thickness of deposits grows
from North to South, from the upper course river towards the middle course of the Arges. In the sub Carpathian hills area, the piezometric level of the phreatic aquifer from the Arges meadow and
terraces vary 0.2 and 0.5 m, while in the piedmont plain area, this is situated at depths of 0.88 and 12
m. The smaller values are recorded in the meadow area, and the bigger values in the terraces. The
hydraulic conductivity ( K ) vary between 10 and 50 m/day, and the transimitivity values ( T ) and
specific yield( q ) between 150 and 600 m2/ day, and 2 and 4 l/s/m. The efficient infiltration has the
value of approximately 94 mm/year.

The nitrates content analysis of the phreatic aquifer from arges county
The appreciation of the present
qualitative state was made taking into
consideration the chemical analyses
results on samples which were
systematically
taken
from
the
observation drillholes of the National
Hydrogeological Network.
Thus there was elaborated a map with
the position of the nitrates content in the
Arges county area, using the results of
the analysis made in the year 2005
(Figure 5).
The areas with bigger nitrates
concentrations are situated in the
Gruiurile Argesului and Pitesti Plain
from the South part of the Topoloveni
locality.
In order to follow the time evolution of
the nitrates concentration there were
elaborated graphics for seven selected
drillholes taking into consideration the
result of a representative analysis for
each drillhole for a period of 31 years.
From the analysis of these graphics,
result that, in general, the nitrates
values are smaller than the limit
admitted by the potability standards (50
mg/l), but with some local exceeding
until 67 mg/l, in a drillhole from the
Cotmeanca valley area.
Figure 5. The map with the position of the nitrates
content in the Arges County area

For the evaluation of the phreatic

aquifer at pollution there were taken into
consideration the thickness and the
lithology of the layer which covers the
phreatic aquifer and the efficient

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infiltration from the recharge area of the aquifer. There was elaborated a map with the position of the
covering layer thicknesses, in order to establish the areas where there is no protection for the aquifer.
(Figure 6) .
In the Pitesti plain area the
covering layer of the phreatic
aquifer
has
thicknesses
comprised between 3 and 7 m,
being represented by soil (clayey
or sandy), clay, silty clay, clayey
loess, and loess with calcareous
concretions.
The
efficient
infiltration (the water quantity
resulted from the precipitations,
which infiltrate in the aquifer) is
approximately of 30 mm/year.
The phreatic aquifer from the
Neajlov terrace and meadow has
a covering layer represented by
soil
and
has
reduced
thicknesses, under 1 m.
The phreatic aquifer from the
Teleorman meadow and terraces
is covered at the superior part by
loessoides deposits (thicknesses
of 2 5 m). The efficient infiltration
has values comprised between 30
and 60 mm/year.

Figure 6. The map with the position of the covering layer

thicknesses of the phreatic aquifer

In the case of the phreatic aquifer

from the Cotmeanca river
terraces and meadow, the
covering layer has thicknesses
comprised between 3 and 15 m,
being represented by soil (clay
and sandy), clay, silty clay, clay
with calcareous concretions.

In the area of the Quaternary

alluvial
deposits
(Middle
Pleistocene Holocene) form the Arges terraces and meadow, the main water course from the
county, the efficient infiltration varies from West towards East from 30 mm/year to 94 mm/year
resulting a reduced aquifer recharging.
On the Arges middle course, the sectors in which the phreatic aquifer is protected by the existence of
a covering clay layer, clayey silts, or silty sands, which reach at thicknesses of 4-5 m and bigger in the
area of some higher terraces, alternates with unprotected sectors, where the porous permeable
deposits are protected only by a thin layer of vegetal soil.
The areas where the covering layer vary from 0 -1 m are situated in the Cotmeana Plateau, namely in
the Cotmeana, Vedea, Vdia and Arge valley, areas where the phreatic aquifer is poorly
represented.

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Conclusion
The research made in the study area emphasized the presence of groundwater on the entire
territory of the Arges County, but in different quantitative and qualitative conditions, depending
on the local geomorphological and geological conditions.
The exploration or exploitation hydrogeological drillholes executed in the area, showed the
existence of two aquifers: phreatic and depth. The most important aquifers in the study areas are
focused in the Upper Romanian Quaternary deposits, which are developed south from Curtea
de Arges.
The most important phreatic aquifers in the study area are localized in the superior-quaternary
Romanian deposits and are mainly developing south from Curtea de Arges. The specific yield ( q )
varies between 0.5 and 4 l/s/m.
In the montane area, groundwater can be stored in the thick gravel deposits from the glacial
calderas and valleys, where they discharge under the form of springs.
Within the Sub-Carpathian area, made up from Neocene molasses deposits, with intercalations
of gypsum and salt rocks, there are numerous saltwater springs, whose presence is attested by
toponimy (Salt Water, Slanic River and village, etc.).
North from Curtea de Arges, the Quaternary deposits, made of gravels and sands, contains a
phreatic aquifer, with reduced development, along the main water courses which descend from
the mountains (Arges, Valsan, Raul Doamnei).
South from Curtea de Arges the phreatic aquifer is localized in alluvial deposits, of Upper Pleistocene
Holocene age, in the meadows and terraces of the water courses, as well as in the interfluves.
On the Arges County area the sectors in which the phreatic aquifer is protected by the existence of a
covering clay layer, clayey silts, or silty sands, which reach at thicknesses of 4-5 m and bigger in the
area of some higher terraces, alternates with unprotected sectors, where the porous permeable
deposits are protected only by a thin layer of vegetal soil.
The areas where the covering layer vary from 0 -1 m are situated in the Cotmeana Plateau, namely in
the Cotmeana, Vedea, Vdia and Arge valley, areas where the phreatic aquifer is poorly
represented.
The depth aquifer is localized in the study area, in the deposits considered of Middle Pleistocene
age. Based on the lithological build up and the piezometric levels, within the depth aquifer there
were separated two complexes: superior and inferior.
The superior aquifer complex, which is developing until the depth of 50 120 m and the inferior
aquifer complex developed immediately under the first complex, until the depth of 250 300 m,
constitute important resources for the water supply.
These depth aquifers present a reduced vulnerability at pollution, but in some cases they can stand
quantitative overstressing, like in the case of some local catching systems, for the water supply of
some big urban agglomeration.

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References
Barco, Aurelia, Nedelcu, E., (1974) Judeul Arge, Inst. de geografie, Col. Jud. patriei, Ed. Acad.
RSR., Bucureti.
Mihaila, N., Stancu, Josefina, Giurgea, P., Dessila-Codarcea, Marcela, Bombita, G., Lupu M. (1968) Harta geologic a Romniei, sc. 1:200.000, foaia Piteti. Com. St. Geol., Inst.Geol.,
Bucureti.
Mutihac, V., (1990) Structura geologic a Romniei. Ed. Teh. Bucureti.
xxxxx Legea Apelor (Legea 107/1996) (1996). Mon.Of. al.Rom., partea I, nr.244/8.10.1996,
Bucureti.
xxxxx Lege pentru modificarea i completarea Legii apelor nr.107/1996 (Legea nr.310/2004) (2004).
Mon.Of. al Rom., partea I, nr.584/30.06.2004, Bucureti.

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