Wastewater and waste-generated pollution at the southeastern Black Sea region

Increasing amount of solid waste and wastewaters arising from municipalities and other sources and their consequent disposal has been the source of major environmental problems in Turkey. Geological and geographical formations of the eastern Black Sea coasts of Turkey do not permit appropriate and economical solutions to be found easily for the removal of solid wastes and wastewaters. All of the municipal and industrial solid wastes mixed with hospital and hazardous wastes are dumped to the nearest lowlands and river valleys or directly into the sea. Although major cities have outfalls, most of the settlements in this area dispose of their wastewaters directly into the shallow coastal sea waters. Existing heavy industry in this area dispose of their wastewaters and inorganic toxic materials, either directly into coastal waters or deep anoxic strata, via their outfalls and submarine tailings placements. Solid wastes with their high organic and inorganic strength and quantities are the major polluting substances in comparison with the wastewaters. In this study suitability of an applied solid waste planning system for 22 villages and two major cities along the southeastern Black Sea coastline and environmental problems related to the solid waste and wastewater disposal in this region were discussed.