Climate change affects both the quantity and quality of water resources, amplifying the water crisis, slowing progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and contributing to the needs of future generations. To address these challenges, this study presents an interdisciplinary synthesis of the literature on the subject, highlighting the impact of climate change on water resources (surface water and groundwater). The escalating global demand for water, driven by factors such as population growth, urbanization, and industrial development, is placing significant pressure on water resources. This situation needs sustainable management solutions to mitigate the environmental impacts associated with increased water consumption and climate change. The methodology included bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer version 1.6.19, a software tool for constructing and visualizing bibliometric networks, and systematic analysis according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. 155 records were used in this review from a total number of 1344 documents searched in Science Direct, Scopus and Google Scholar databases. The results indicate that research on the consequences of climate change on water quality remains in its infancy. This study highlights the effects of climate change on water quality indicators, including physicochemical, microbiological, and micropollutants, as well as the implications for human health and water supply infrastructure. Climatic factors, such as rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns, are particularly important because they control processes fundamental to sustaining life on the planet. The main conclusions are that climate change accelerates the degradation of drinking water quality and amplifies public health risks. These findings highlight the need for rigorous assessments and the development of integrated adaptation strategies involving collaboration among water operators, decision-makers, the scientific community, and climate change specialists.

Water management is a significant challenge, stimulating synergies between scientists and practitioners to create new tools and approaches to streamline decision making in this field. The assessment and monitoring of freshwater quality in surface water bodies are crucial for sustainable and safe water management. The main objectives of this study were to analyze the characteristics and properties of Chirita lake, assess seasonal variations in water quality, determine compliance with national environmental legislation, and perform a comparison with monitoring systems in other European lakes. The study used data that determined water quality indicators for a five-year period, from 2020 to 2024, considering temperature, turbidity, pH, conductivity, alkalinity, hardness, organic matter, nitrates, nitrites, ammonium, and chlorides. The statistical analysis technique based on the Pearson correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the seasonal correlations of water quality parameters in Chirita lake and to extract the essential parameters for assessing seasonal variations in river water quality. The results obtained indicated that the indicators considered important for water quality variation in one season may not be important in another season, except for organic matter and conductivity, which showed a significant contribution to water quality variation throughout the four seasons. This study demonstrated that lake water is classified as first class, according to national regulations. These results provide valuable support for local authorities to develop effective strategies for water quality management and the prevention of eutrophication processes in reservoirs.

Water resources are essential for human well-being. However, water pollution is a major global problem with significant implications for the environment and public health. To address these challenges, this study presents an integrated perspective on water pollution by correlating pollution sources, transport pathways, exposure routes, and associated risks to human health. The methodology combined a systematic review conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines with a bibliometric analysis performed by using VOSviewer version 1.6.19, a software tool for constructing and visualizing bibliometric networks. A total of 332 publications published between 2015 and 2025 were retrieved from the Scopus and Google Scholar databases and met the PRISMA eligibility criteria. The findings indicate that both natural and anthropogenic sources contribute to water contamination, introducing pollutants such as heavy metals, pesticides, pharmaceutical residues, microplastics, and pathogenic microorganisms with potential human health impacts. Bibliometric analysis revealed a transition from conventional water quality assessments toward integrated approaches emphasizing health risks and environmental interactions. The study further identified important knowledge gaps regarding contaminant mixture effects and synergistic toxicity, which remain insufficiently addressed in current scientific and regulatory frameworks. These findings highlight the need for strengthened regulatory strategies, advanced treatment technologies, and evidence-based water governance to support environmental sustainability and public health protection.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a required systematic process of identifying, predicting, and assessing the environmental effects of proposed actions and projects such as nuclear power stations, long-distance railways, motorways, express roads, waste disposal installations for hazardous waste, and dams of a certain capacity. After presenting the EIA evolution at the international level, its introduction into Romanian legislation in 1973 is discussed, considering criticism regarding the main problems arising from its widespread implementation. Although some studies have included state-of-the-art synthesis of the EIA effectiveness concept, there are no reported studies using bibliometric analysis to describe in detail the historical development of the EIA process. The aim of this study is to analyze the evolution of the EIA process in Romania in the context of sustainable development (SD). To achieve this objective, the data obtained from the implementation of PRISMA methodology and bibliometric analysis were considered. For this purpose, 125 publications on the EIA evolution were selected, obtained from a systematic review in the Elsevier, Scopus, and Springer databases for the period 2000–2024. The research results provide practical recommendations for decision-makers and practitioners in Romania, aiming to strengthen EIA legislation and practices with the purpose of ensuring the effective implementation of sustainable development principles.