Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Ecological quality status of the Erenik River in Kosovo: Physical parameters and macronutrients

Author(s):

Erdona Demiraj ¹, Albert Kopali ², Adrian Doko ², Jamarber Malltezi ², Sulejman Sulce ²*

Recieved Date: 2015-07-10, Accepted Date: 2015-09-28

Abstract:

The Erenik River in Kosovo encompasses an area of about 88 km² and is an important tributary of the Drin River watershed, which in turn covers an area of 19,000 km². The ecological quality of the Erenik River affects the quality of four hydropower reservoirs and that of Drin River. This paper identifies the main sources of macronutrients, dissolved mineral forms, transfer and loading of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) on the Erenik River and how it influences the water quality of the Drin River and Fierza Lake. Total forms in soil and sediment of C, N and P as well as soluble forms of N (NO₃^-, NO₂^- and NH₄⁺) and P (PO₄^3-) in the water of Erenik River was measured at 13 stations, selected based on parental rock, topography, as well as identified point and diffuse sources. River water quality deteriorates particularly from the influence of wastewater spills and disposal of urban and industrial waste. High values of soluble forms of nitrogen (Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen - DIN) and the very high values of orthophosphates in the stations after the city of Gjakova indicate that the point source pollution is the determinant factor in the water pollution. According to Water Framework Directive (WFD) and Albanian legislation, the water quality is fine upstream (sampling stations 1 to 3), whilst between station 4 and station 12, range at class II to IV for concentrations of nitrate and ammonium forms and class V for the concentration of orthophosphate. The values of nitrate in water classify grade II at station 13 while the contents of ammonium and orthophosphate classify it in class «very good» or equivalent to oligotrophic ecosystem values. High contents of organic and phosphorus forms create eutrophication conditions in the middle part of the river where either N or P can be limiting factors, while in Lake Fierza the limiting factor is N.

Keywords:

Ecological quality, macronutrients, pollution

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2015
Volume: 13
Issue: 3&4
Category: Environment
Pages: 150-157

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