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- Title
Time and Space Variability of Water Quality in the Inner-city River in Lublin from the Aspect of Existing Natural and Land Use Conditions.
- Authors
Zubala, Tomasz
- Abstract
The paper evaluates the variability of water quality in Lublin's inner-city river taking into account natural and anthropogenic factors that are likely to determine its pollution level. The study period was 2009-2016. The sampling points (SP) were situated in places with different degrees of investment in and use of adjacent grounds. The physical and chemical properties of waters were analysed on a seasonal basis. The values determined for the samples included temperature, conductivity, pH, suspended solids, O2, BOD5, COD, NH4+, NO3-, NO2-, PO4-, SO4-, Fe+, K+ and Cl-. Chemical composition was determined by means of a photometric method. The statistical Wilcoxon test was used for comparing water quality indicators for both SP s and in the cold and warm season. In 2013-2016 water levels and flow intensity (indirect, sectional method) were also measured at the mouth of the river. Most of the analysed indicators were characterised by the coefficient of variation exceeding 50%. The values were relatively highly differentiated for NH4+, suspended solids, PO4-, BOD5 and NO3- (73.8-282.1%). On the other hand, low variability was observed for pH, O2, SO4- and Fe+ (3.2-41.9%). The indicators that considerably deteriorated the quality of water in the river were NO2-, PO4- and Fe+ (risk of eutrophication). Considering the mean concentrations of pollutants and flow intensity (0.34 m3·s-1), the annual discharge of NO2- and PO4- from the catchment could reach 1.39 and 5.15 Mg respectively. Worse water quality was recorded at the mouth of the river where the adjacent grounds were highly urbanised. This phenomenon can testify to a growing number of pollution sources down the river. Detailed observations confirmed that many considerably neglected and polluted areas existed within the examined section of the river valley (old buildings, road network, wasteland, illegal dump sites). Discharging untreated rainwater directly into the river bed is a huge problem (increased values for conductivity, suspended solids, COD and some nutrients). In the cold season 60% of the analysed indicators (mainly temperature, conductivity, NH4+ and Cl-) were more varied than in the warm season. Statistically significant differences were found for temperature, conductivity, O2, PO4-, NO3- and Cl-. In the winter months the values of conductivity and Cl- levels increased, which is connected with an influx of strongly polluted snowmelt into the river. The concentrations of PO4- and NO3- were higher in the warm season. It is likely that the supply of nutrients at that time was higher than required by the autotrophs. Due to a considerable variation of seasonal factors, they must be taken into account in developing the water resources management strategy for a catchment basin. Only a comprehensive approach to the problem of river water quality protection can generate positive effects. The necessary measures include detecting and eliminating all sources of pollution and reducing migration of the existing pollutants.
- Subjects
WATER quality management; LAND use &; the environment; CHEMICAL properties; SUSPENDED solids; WATERSHED management
- Publication
Annual Set the Environment Protection / Rocznik Ochrona Środowiska, 2019, Vol 21, Issue 1, p712
- ISSN
1506-218X
- Publication type
Article