We monitored the content of nitrates (NO3-) in samples taken from individual groundwater resources in the cadastral territory of the city of Nitra and Zobor (Svorad’s spring, spring Šindolka and spring Buganka), also used for human consumption in the period 2012 - 2014. NO3- contents were assessed by Photocolorimetric method. We also evaluated the results achieved in relation to the current legislation in this area. The results of the performed analyzes throughout the period shows that the average concentration of NO3- represented in the samples of water from Svorad’s spring was 12,6 mg.dm-3, spring Šindolka 38,0 mg.dm-3 and spring Buganka 103,1 mg .dm-3 The nitrate concentration did not exceed the limit value in samples from spring Šindolka and spring Svorad. Spring Buganka had this value exceeded by up to 100 % of cases. We do not recommend to use water for human consumption from spring Buganka based on the measured values.

Keywords: Groundwater, quality, nitrates, city of Nitra RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONWe collected monthly and define the content of nitrate (NO3 -) in groundwater samples from their individual sources in the period 2012 -2013. The results were processed by the figure 1 and 2, which show that:The content of nitrates (NO3 -) were assessed in the period 2012 -2013 in samples taken from individual groundwater sources (Svorad´s spring, Puškin´s spring, spring on Pivoňková street, spring on Mriánska dolina, spring Šindolka and spring Buganka) in the administrative area of Nitra and Zobor , also used for human consumption. The content of NO 3were assessed by Photocolorimetric method. We also evaluate the results achieved in relation to the current legislation of the area. From the result of the performed analyzes during the whole period shows that the average concentration of NO3represented in samples of water from the source Svorad´s spring 12,1 mg.dm -3 , Puškin´s spring 14,6 mg.dm -3 , from spring St. Martina 117,0 mg.dm -3 , from spring on Pivoňkova street 6,4 mg.dm -3 , from spring Šindolka 39,5 mg.dm -3 and spring Buganka 101,7 mg.dm -3 . The nitrate concentration exceeded the limit value in 16 % of cases in 2012 and it was 17 % of cases in 2013. Based on the measured values, therefore we do not recommend to use the water for human consumption from springs Buganka and St. Martina at the endpoint. ARTICLE INFO