Water and Sediment Quality Monitoring of Smaller Watercourses in Vojvodina - Case Study of Tatarnica

Abstract

Water quality conditions of the Tatarnica canalized watercourse are considered in this paper. Tatarnica is the main canal of one of the drainage systems, which is situated about twenty kilometers to the West of Novi Sad (Vojvodina, Serbia). The quality of water and sediments in this canal is important because its water is used for irrigation of vegetable crops on the surrounding arable lands. In addition, its confluence into the Danube is near Begecka jama, which is a nature park with special ecological value. Based on the monthly water sampling and the analysis of relevant quality indicators during the research period, from year 2006 to 2012, the results of seven-year-long water and sediments quality monitoring are presented. According to the most relevant water quality parameters, water has a good ecological potential in most samples. However, occasional occurrence of inadequate water quality was noted, usually due to organic pollution, manifested as increased values of Biological and chemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5 and COD) in 35% samples. Exceptions from the required water quality were determined for the other parameters in about 10-25% of the samples. Sediment properties, according to all analyzed parameters, are generally within limits which do not have negative influences on the canal environment and its surroundings.

Keywords

• ecological potential
• quality indicators
• water pollution
• canal
• drainage