Thermal mineral springs of Niška Banja are important hydrographic objects of national significance for Republic of Serbia primarily because of their physical and chemical properties. The true balneophysical value of  Niška Banja had been unknown up to 1909 when doctor Marko Leco first discovered the physical-chemical composition and radioactivity of the water.

Niška Banja has three basic thermal mineral springs: Main Spring (King’s Spring), Suva Banja and Školska Česma.

Main Spring (King’s Spring) gives 35-40 l/s. It is one of the most prolific springs in Serbia with the water temperature constantly between 38.2 °C and 38.9 °C. It is classified as a radioactive homeotherm.

Suva Banja is the second most important spring in Niška Banja. Its water output is 14-42 l/s. The water temperature varies from 12 °C to 37 °C. It is classified as a radioactive homeotherm. It is characterized by substantial fluctuation in water temperature, output and radioactivity.

Školska Česma’s temperature ranges from 17°C to 19°C and its output is around 2.5l/s. The water is suitable for drinking and it is regarded as a remedy for many health disorders. It also belongs to the class of radioactive homeotherms with the considerable content of calcium, magnesium, hydrocarbons, aluminum oxide, iron oxide and silicone oxide.

Institue Niška Banja uses the water from Main Spring (King’s Spring) which belongs to Staro Kupatilo building. The water from this spring is properly stored in Staro Kupatilo. The stored water is distributed to other Institute’s buildings through a pipe system (Staro Kupatilo pool – 28,8м³, Terme pool – 36 м³, Zelengora pool – 33м³, Radon – 500м³ and a number of bathtubs in all buildings).

The result of the physical-chemical composition analysis of the thermal mineral water from Main Spring (King’s Spring).

The analysis was done by the Institute for Rehabilitation Belgrade, Balneoclimatology department.

Analysis Date: 22.08.2017				Specific weight:1.0005 g/cm3 pH: 7.2 Dry matter at 180°C: 0.271 g/L Water temperature: 38°C Air temperature: 25°C
Mineral contetnt (liter of water)
CATION		Gram	Milimolar	Milival	Milival %
Sodium(Na+)		0,0216	0,9391	0,9391	15,1554
Potassium(K+)		0,0015	0,0384	0,0384	0,6191
Lithium(Li+)		0,0003	0,0043	0,0043	0,0702
Ammonium(NH4+)		0,0005	0,0029	0,0029	0,0475
Calcium(Ca++)		0,0710	1,7750	3,5500	57,2887
Magnesium(Mg++)		0,0200	0,8230	1,6461	26,5640
Stontium(Sr++)		0,0003	0,0034	0,0068	0,1105
Manganese(Mn++)		0,0000	0,0004	0,0007	0,0117
Iron(Fe++)		0,0005	0,0009	0,0027	0,0433
Aluminum(Al+++)		0,0005	0,0019	0,0056	0,0897
Total				6,1967	100,0000
ANION		Gram	Milimolar	Milival	Milival %
Hydrocarbonats		0,3290	5,3934	5,3934	83,6968
Chloride		0,0131	0,3690	0,3690	5,7265
Bromide		0,0005	0,0006	0,0006	0,0097
Iodide		0,0020	0,0158	0,0158	0,2446
Fluoride		0,0002	0,0105	0,0105	0,1633
Nitrate		0,0009	0,0145	0,0290	0,4505
Phosphate		0,0003	0,0003	0,0006	0,0097
Sulfate		0,0300	0,3125	0,6250	9,6989
Total				6,4440	100,0000
Weak electrolyte: Methasilicum acids Metaboric acids		0,0389 0,0013
Sum of all solid disolved ingredients:		0,5301
Gases: Free carbon dioxide (CO2) Free hydrogen sulphide (H2S)		0,0750 0,0003
Chemical properties		Chemical composition of water is characterized by: calcium, magnesium and hydrocarbonates Total concentration Н/1000:12,64; Ca 3,55; Mg 1,65; HCO3  5,39
Curl’s formula		M 0.53         HCO3 83,7 / (Ca 57,3 Mg 26,6)         T 38°

The thermal mineral water of Niška Banja is classified as a mildly alkaline oligomineral calcium magnesium hydrocarbon radioactive (radon) homeotherm.

The natural thermal mineral water is slightly mineralized (dry matter at 180°C is  0.271 g/l). The dominant cations are calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) while dominant anions are hydrocarbons (HCO₃). The presence of dissolved carbon oxide (CO2) and  hydrogen sulphide (H2S) is very discreet. The temperature of 38°C puts the water in the class of homeotherm waters which makes it suitable for bathing, spraying, flushing, and inhalation without any additional heating. The water is applied as a mineral bath, an underwater massage, hydro-kinesiotherapy in a pool, and inhalation for respiratory diseases.

The radioactive (radon) oligo mineral homeotherm represents a typical low-mineralized radon-infused water where radon itself is the main balneophysical factor which in balneological sense identifies Niška Banja in the full range of its indications.

The basic indications for the water are:

а) Musculoskeletal diseases

1. Inflammatory rheumatism
   • Rheumatoid arthritis
   • Seronegative spondyloarthropathy:
     • Psoriatic arthritis
     • Ankylosing spondylitis
     • Reactive arthritis
     • Enteropathic spondyloarthropathy
   • Connective tissue disease:
     • Systemic lupus erythematosus
     • Systemic sclerosis
     • Dermatopolymyositis
     • Vasculitis
     • Sjogren’s syndrome

2. Degenerative rheumatism
   • Arthrosis with secondary inflammation
   • Spinal and peripheral joint osteoarthrosis (clinic and hospital care)
3. Spinal and peripheral joint osteoarthrosis
4. Extra-articular rheumatism
   • Fibrositis
   • Myositis
   • Tendonitis
   • Bursitis
5. Metabolic rheumatism (osteoporosis, gout, chondrocalcinosis, etc.)

b) Arterial hypertension without signs of heart decompensation

• Stable forms of coronary syndrome
• Condition after myocardial infarction and heart or blood vessel surgery
• Other heart diseases with no signs of progress, major hear failure (ЕФ<45%) and evident heart decompensation

c) Bone fracture and skeletal surgery

• Hip replacement rehabilitation
• Bone fracture rehabilitation

d) Post-traumatic conditions

e) All types of sports injury

f) Neurological disorders (neuralgia, sciatica, central and peripheral neuropathy, cerebrovascular injury)