Longitudinal patterns of different pollutant concentrations in the Setun River

Abstract

As one of the most well-studied rivers of the Moscow megalopolis with diverse landscape and anthropogenic impact conditions on its watershed, the Setun River is a unique system suitable for complex urban geochemical research. Data of our ecological monitoring of 2019-2020 show elevated content of multiple elements, including nutrients and heavy metals, in its water throughout the year with several distinctive types of concentration distribution along the course of the river. These patterns correspond to various major impacts in the watershed: concentrations of P, N, Mn and sometimes As are the highest in the upper reaches due to proximity of a landfill and decrease downstream; Cu has a drastic concentration increase below an industrial park, and concentrations of various metals consistently increase downstream from highways and railroads despite the fact that the lower reaches are protected as a part of a wildlife sanctuary. Our findings may serve as a basis for optimizing the water quality monitoring within the framework of comprehensive research of pollution transport in water, soil and air of an urban watershed.