Evaluation of the surface water and sediment quality in the Duger basin (Burdur, Turkey) using multivariate statistical analyses and identification of heavy metals

The study aims to determine the chemical contents of the surface water of the Duger Creek and the sediments of the Duger basin, which feeds the Burdur Lake, the correlation between these contents, the potential ecological risks of these contents, the toxic heavy metal contents, and their spatial distribution by using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy method. The Duger basin, which has been selected as the study area, is located on the streams feeding the Burdur Lake, which has been determined as the Ramsar area in Turkey. Burdur Lake has a key role in the ecological balance due to its biological diversity, characteristic animal/plant fauna since it provides a suitable area for seasonal migration of waterfowl. Considering all these functions, the surface water and sediment quality of the Duger basin, which is located in the streams feeding Burdur Lake, is critical. In this study, elemental compositions of 20 water and 20 sediment samples collected from the Duger basin were determined by using the XRF spectroscopy method. Many elements that may have toxicological characteristics in terms of human and environmental health have been detected in the surface water and sediment samples from the Duger basin. These elements were found to have the following average values: Al (60.09 mg/L), Co (3.35 mg/L), Zn (3.35 mg/L), Cu (2.21 mg/L), Cr (0.14 mg/L). It is interpreted that they may be toxic because they exceed the limits specified in WHO 2004. In this context, the surface water in the Duger basin, which feeds the Burdur Lake, must be filtered before using it as drinking water or for agricultural and livestock purposes. New strategic planning is suggested to ensure the sustainability of the basin's surface water quality.