In recent years water quality problems have attracted increasing attention from authorities and communities throughout the world, especially in developing countries but also in countries in transition from centrally planned economies to market economies. In the latter, previously neglected aspects of environmental protection are now becoming a major obstacle for further and sustainable economic and social development. Degradation of surface and groundwater sources has previously been an inherent consequence of economic development and remedial action to compensate for, or to reduce, environmental impacts have always been a lesser priority. Consequently, when the impacts of pollution and the costs of.
