A study on the evaluation of the water quality status for the Buyuk Menderes River, Turkey

Abstract

This study was carried out to assess the water quality of the Buyuk Menderes River, as per the criteria of water quality index (WQI) by analyzing 15 physical and chemical parameters in 8 observation stations. The WQI method is considered as one of the most efficient methods of measuring the quality of water. Average WQI values were calculated between 37.27 and 85.96 based on the stations examined, and average values based on months were calculated as 56.88 and 71.38. The highest WQI values at the stations were recorded during April, June, and October. The lowest WQI value was found in the Yenice station and the highest value was recorded at the Saraykoy bridge station. WQI values have varied over a wide range across the entire river. According to WQI scores, statu of river water quality varies between "good" and "very poor". The water quality statu at the stations located at the upstream and downstream of the river route is "good", but at the stations located in the central part of the river, can be classified as "poor" and "very poor". This is mostly due to the aggregation of urban and rural settlements and all commercial activities, which are clustered in the middle part of the river route. Therefore, to prevent pollution of the river and to maintain the water quality, the wastewater originating from domestic sources as well as from industrial activities should be processed and treated before its discharge into the river, and the fertilizers and pesticides utilized in agriculture must be regulated throughout the basin to reduce their exposure to water.