Investigation of Water Quality of Samanlı and Safran River (Yalova) in Terms of Inorganic Nutrients and Physicochemical Properties

Abstract

Abstract

In this study, water quality of Safran and Samanlı River was investigated. These two rivers have higher importance amongst other eleven rivers in Yalova boundaries because of passing through city centre. Determining studies were started in December 2012, and terminated in November 2013. pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, alkalinity, COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand), and inorganic nutrients (NO₃-N, NO₂ -N, NH₃- N, PO₄-P) analyses were performed in samples collected from 6 stations selected accord to recommendation of Yalova Water and Sewage Works officials. All analyses were carried out in accordance with EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Methods. As a result of experiments  continued  through 12 months it was observed that pHs of samples are varied between pH 7.61 and 9.28, conductivity varies from 3.1 to 2751.5 µS/cm, dissolve oxygen from 14.20 to 98.95%, alkalinity 41.0-291.4 mg/L CaCO₃, COD 5-500 ppm, NO₃-N 0.49-16.80 ppm, NO₂-N 4.16-45.69 ppm, NH₃-N 0.4-10.0 ppm and PO₄-P is nearly 1.54 ppm. Just for one station’s PO₄-P data are under the LOD values beyond whole study. The values for same quality parameters (i.e. COD) have been significantly changed depending on collection points of samples. If obtained results compare with the limit values introduced in Regulations of Surface Water Quality Management (2012), it can be said that Samanlı and Safran Rivers’ water show third class water properties, so these waters cannot be use agricultural and/or recreational purposes.