Abstract
The ecological status of the water in the Iskar River basin is of utmost importance because it provides more than 70% of Sofia’s drinking water. It is considered that the major point source of pollution in the upper Iskar aquatic ecosystems is the discharge from the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in the town of Samokov. This study aims to assess the environmental impact of treated effluent discharge from the WWTP - Samokov in the upper part of the Iskar River. Autumn and spring sampling was carried out (November 2020, March 2021, November 2021 and March 2022) at four sampling points upstream and downstream of the WWTP - Samokov and from a discharge of a local WWTP in the village of Belchin. The contents of macro-, micro- and trace elements, as well as inorganic anions were determined and compared with the requirements of Bulgarian legislation. Тhe concentrations of the macroelements Na, K, Ca, Mg, P, S and Si were relatively stable in the studied sampling points and seasons. The concentrations of the main part of the regulated microelements were below the maximum admissible concentrations (MACs). Seasonal exceedance of the MACs was established for Al, Fe, Hg before and after the discharge, which is an indication of diffuse pollution. The presence of Cl-, NO3- and SO42- was found, and the highest concentrations were determined at the discharge, but were below the MACs according to the requirements of Bulgarian legislation.
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