Research of the Ecological Status in the Waters of the River Sitnica-Kosovo

Abstract

The most potential pollutants of the river Sitnica with phenols, heavy metals, and other physicochemical indicators are Kishnica Mine, Ferronikel, surface coal mines, Kosovo Energy Corporation, landfill with industrial waste in Mitrovica, landfills and urban discharges, etc. The purpose of this work is to investigate the degree of pollution and to determine the ecological status of the Sitnica River. Although the focus of our research is the phenol pollution of the waters of the river Sitnica. During our research we have analyzed physicochemical parameters with contemporary analytical techniques, applying the standard determination methods. The parameters that have been analyzed are temperature, electrical conductivity, oxygen saturation, total matter suspended, NH4+, PO43-, SO42-, Cl-, pH, DO, BOD5, COD, N-NH4, NO3-, NO2-, PO4-P, TP. The results obtained and presented in tabular form and compared with the reference values, reflect enormous pollution with phenols, at the maximum rate of 1.137 mg/L and other physicochemical pollutants. Based on the findings from the conducted experiments, the water of the river Sitnica is categorized in waters with a poor ecological status.