Abstract
Twenty-four rivers in different parts of Lithuania were selected for the study. The aim of the research was to evaluate the impact of anthropogenic load on the ecological status of rivers. Anthropogenic loads were assessed according to the pollution sources in individual river catchment basins. The total nitrogen (TN) values did not correspond to the “good” and “very good” ecological status classes in 51% of the tested water bodies; 19% had a “bad” to “moderate” BOD7, 50% had “bad” to “moderate” NH4-N, 37% had “bad” to “moderate” NO3-N, and 4% had “bad” to “moderate” PO4-P. The total phosphorus (TP) values did not correspond to the “good” and “very good” ecological status classes in 4% of the tested water bodies. The largest amounts of pollution in river basins were generated from the following sources: transit pollution, with 87,599 t/year of total nitrogen and 5020 t/year of total phosphorus; agricultural pollution, with 56,031 t/year of total nitrogen and 2474 t/year of total phosphorus. The highest total nitrogen load in river basins per year, on average, was from transit pollution, accounting for 53.89%, and agricultural pollution, accounting for 34.47%. The highest total phosphorus load was also from transit pollution, totaling 58.78%, and agricultural pollution, totaling 28.97%. Multiple regression analysis showed the agricultural activity had the biggest negative influence on the ecological status of rivers according to all studied indicators.
Highlights
Lithuania is committed to achieving the objectives of the EU Water Framework Directive by 2027 and to achieving good water status in inland waters
Studies on the physicochemical quality of element indicators were performed for LLaanndd 22002211, 1100, xx FFOORR PPEEEERR RREEVVIIEEWWNO3-N, NH4-N, total nitrogen (TN), PO4-P, total phosphorus (TP), and the BO66 oDoff71166
The total nitrogen values did not comply with the requirements of to the ‘’good” and ‘’very good” ecological status classes in 51% of the tested water bodies; 19% had a ‘’bad” to ‘’moderate” BOD7, 50% had ‘’bad” to ‘’moderate” NH4-N, 37% had ‘’bad” to ‘’moderate” NO3-N, 4 % had ‘’bad” to ‘’moderate” PO4-P, and the total phosphorus values did not correspond to the ‘’good” or ‘’very good” ecological status classes in 4% of the tested water bodies; 2
Summary
Lithuania is committed to achieving the objectives of the EU Water Framework Directive by 2027 and to achieving good water status in inland waters. Human activities change the hydromorphological, physicochemical, and biological parameters of surface water bodies, affecting their biodiversity and ecological functioning [2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9]. Human activities affect the condition of water bodies differently in rural areas (agricultural activities, livestock) and urban areas (industrial, municipal, domestic wastewater discharges). Landscape changes caused by anthropogenic activities and land cover make a significant influence on the state of surface waters [22,23,24], are closely related to water chemical parameters [25], the diversity of fish and macroinvertebrate species [24,26], and sediment metal concentrations [27]. Fragmented urban land use, with many impermeable surfaces, tends to increase river flows and adversely affects water quality [28,29,30]
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