Determination of water quality of Firtina Stream (Rize) in terms of physico-chemical structure

Abstract

In this study, purposing to determine water quality of Firtina Stream located in between Ardeşen and Çamlihemşin, Rize at Eastern Black Sea Region was investigated. The study was carried out between May, 2006 and April, 2008. During the study, the water samples were taken periodically from seven chosen stations in every month. The measured data were given as following (minimum, maximum and average): pH(6.88-7.61-7.16±0.0121), total dissolved solids (TDS)(14.20-42.10-28.28±0.43 ppm), bicarbonate (HCO-3) (36.60-122.00-66.88±1.05 mg/L), carbon dioxide (CO2)(0.88-4.10-2.28±0.05 mg/L), biochemical oxygen demand (BOI5)(0.60-4.40-1.85±0.05 mg/L), calcium (Ca++)(6.01-16.03-9.86±0.16 mg/L), magnesium (Mg++)(0.01-5.59-1.89±0.09 mg/L), total hardness (17.00-47.00-32.29±0.49 mg/L), nitrite nitrogen (NO-2-N)(UDL-0.0083-0.0012±0.0001 mg/L), nitrate nitrogen (NO-3-N)(0.0001-5.47-1.36±0.0873 mg/L), ammonium nitrogen (NH+ 4-N)(0.0006-0.0140-0.0048±0.0002 mg/L), phosphate phosphorus (PO-34-P)(UDL-0.42-0.12±0.0084 mg/L), total suspended solids (0.60-78.30-11.37±1.21 mg/L), alkalinity (10.00-85.00-46.04±1.20 mg/L), water temperature (4.00-18.96-10.53±0.40°C), dissolved oxygen (8.17-13.78-10.71±0.11 mg/L), dissolved oxygen saturation (75.20-82.50-79.54±1.97 %), turbidity (0.27-57.03-9.89±0.90 NTU) and conductivity (19.50-85.26-54.77±1.04 ?S/cm). When the all physical and chemical characteristics of Firtina Stream were examined according to the inland water quality standards declared in water pollution law, it is obvious that the river has a high water quality standard (Class 1) except for phosphorus and suitable for purposing human consumption. Thus, it can be said that Firtina Stream water can be used not only for drinking purpose by disinfecting it, but also for recreational aims, aquacultures and other aims.