Influence of runoff of suspended solids on quality of surface water: Case study of the Szreniawa River

Abstract

Research was conducted in selected points of the Szreniawa River basin (area 712 km2) located in the Miechowska Upland and the Proszowice Plateau. In the years 2016–2017 water samples from the Szreniawa River were taken monthly and the concentration of suspended solids was determined by filtration. The concentration of biogenic components NO3-N, NH4-N and PO4-P was determined by a colorimetric method, using an automatic flow analyser. The average concentration of suspended solids ranged from 192 to 390 mg·dm−3 (with minimum values of 5–20 mg·dm−3 and maximum 837–3937 mg·dm−3) at individual points. There was an upward trend between the content of suspended solids and the concentration of biogenic components. An extremely high concentration of suspended solids happened during storm-like precipitation at the end of June 2017 and amounted to 3937.2 mg·dm−3. The concentration of biogenic components was also highest in this period and amounted to 2.50 mg·dm−3 of NO3-N, 0.49 mg·dm−3 of NH4-N and 1.18 mg·dm−3 of PO4-P. At low precipitation the concentration of suspended solids was also low (5.0 mg·dm−3). A similar pattern was observed for the concentration of biogenic components which was 0.39 mg·dm−3 of NO3-N, 0.17 mg·dm−3 of PO4-P and 0.08 mg·dm−3 of NH4-N.

Keywords

• cambisols
• chernozems
• concentration of NO3-N
• NH4-N
• PO4-P
• dusty soils
• loess
• suspended solids