Ergene River Basin Research Articles

A Site-Specific Index to Control the Total Effect of Point Sources Discharges and to Achieve ‘Good Chemical Status’ in Effluent Dependent and Effluent Dominated Water Bodies: Application on Ergene River Basin

In this study, a simple site-specific index entitled “Discharge Effect Index (DEI)” was developed to rank and control the potential risks of point sources discharges effects to Ergene River and its branches. The basin is densely populated and heavily industrialized and all the water bodies in the basin are effluent-dependent or dominated. A case study is presented to assess the most important pollution parameters in the water bodies and to evaluate relationship between toxicity to Vibrio fischeri organism and chemical parameters in receiving waters. The aim of the study was to develop a simple site-specific control approach for seriously polluted and effluent-dominated water bodies in this developing country, Turkey and guide to decision makers about controlling point sources pollution in such heavily industrialized basins and achieve ‘good chemical status’ in ambient waters. The results of the study should be useful to encourage site-specific policies on point sources pollution especially to who had such these pollution problems in their receiving water bodies.

Toxicity evaluation of industrial and land base sources in a river basin

In this study, an ecotoxicological survey of complex mixture effluents collected from textile, leather and municipal influents and effluents, an unsanitary landfill leachate, and river waters and sediments of the Ergene River Basin is presented. Acute toxicity tests were applied by bacterial luminescence method with Vibrio fischeri and expressed as Toxicity Unit (T.U.) defined as 100/EC 50. In parallel, conventional pollution parameters (COD, BOD, NH 4, sulfide, color, etc.) and heavy metals were analyzed. The results indicate that river water and sediments are polluted severely and urgently need to control.