WATER AND SEDIMENT QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF THE LIFEBLOOD OF THRACE REGION (TURKEY): MERIC RIVER BASIN

Meric River, which is the longest river in Balkans, is one of the most important aquatic ecosystems in Thrace Region of Turkey. But as many aquatic ecosystems, Meric River Basin is known to be exposed to an intensive organic and inorganic pollution by means of agricultural and industrial pressure on the system. The aim of this study was to determine the water and sediment quality of Meric River Basin by using some statistical techniques. For this purpose, water and sediment samples were collected in spring (rainy) season of 2017 from 24 stations selected on the basin. Total of 19 water quality parameters (temperature, dissolved oxygen, % oxygen saturation, pH, EC, TDS, salinity, turbidity, nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, phosphate, sulphate, floride, chloride, ORP, COD, BOD and fecal coliform) were investigated in water samples and also total of 9 inorganic pollution parameters (Cd, Pb, As, B, Cu, Zn, Cr, Ni and Se) were investigated in water and sediment samples. Cluster Analysis (CA) and Factor Analysis (FA) were applied to the results in order to evaluate the detected data effectively. According to detected data, pollution levels of the investigated rivers and lakes as follows; Ergene River > Meric River > Tunca River > Lakes of Meric Delta in general. It was also determined that organic contamination levels in water and toxic element levels in sediment of the Meric River Basin have reached to critical levels and the system is under effect of agricultural and industrial pressure.