VULNERABILITY OF MOUNTAIN RIVERS TO WASTE DUMPING FROM NEAMT COUNTY, ROMANIA
FLORIN-CONSTANTIN MIHAI1, LIVIU APOSTOL2, ADRIAN
URSU3, PAVEL ICHIM4
1, 2, 3, 4 “Alexandru Ioan Cuza “University, Department of Geography, RO-700505, Iasi, 20 A Carol I Blvd, Romania, e-mail: mihai. florin86@yahoo. com,
Abstract: Lack of waste management facilities from mountain region often lead to
uncontrolled disposal of waste on river banks polluting the local environment
and damaging the tourism potential. Geographical conditions influences the
distribution of human settlements which are located along the rivers and its
tributaries. This paper aims to estimate the amounts of household waste
generated and uncollected disposed into mountain rivers, taking into account
several factors such as:proximity of rivers to the human settlements, the
morphology of villages, length of river that crosses the locality(built up
areas), local population, the access to waste collection services and waste
management infrastructure. Vulnerability of rivers to illegal dumping is
performed using GIS techniques, highlighting the localities pressure on rivers
in close proximity. For this purpose, it developed a calculation model for
estimation the amounts of waste (kg) that are dumped on a river section (m) that
crosses a locality (village) or it is in close proximity. This estimation is
based on the “principle of proximity and minimum effort” it can be applied in
any mountainous region that are lacking or partially access to waste collection
services. It is an assessment tool of mountain rivers vulnerability to waste
dumping,
taking into account the geographical and demographic conditions of the study
area. Also the current dysfunctions are analyzed based on field observations.
Key-words: waste dumping, indicators, assessment tool, GIS techniques,
mountain rivers
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