Hydrochemical characteristics and water quality of the Mušnica River catchment, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

The spatial position of the Mušnica River catchment in the Dinaric Karst results in specific conditions of the drainage, distribution and chemical characteristics of the surface water and groundwater. This catchment is mountainous, located between 930 and 1985 m above sea level. The chemical characteristics of the waters are strongly dependent on the local lithological composition and the precipitation regime. The dominant cations are Ca2+ and Mg2+, and anions HCO3 - and SO4 2-. The surface water is characterized by low and medium mineralization, with resultant soft, medium-hard and very-hard total hardness levels. The groundwater is more mineralized than the surface water. Gacko Town and its associated thermal power plant, Gacko 1, which are located in the southern part of the Mušnica River catchment, have no modern facilities for sewage and wastewater transport or treatment. In order to prevent further water quality deterioration and to enable its sustainable use, it is recommended to ensure adequate protection measures in the catchment area. Editor Z.W. Kundzewicz; Associate editor S. Faye Citation Banjak, D. and Nikolić, J., 2012. Hydrochemical characteristics and water quality of the Mušnica River catchment, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 57 (3), 562–575.