Chemical and Physical Quality Criteria of Bulakbaşı Stream in Turkey and Usage of Drinking, Fisheries, and Irrigation

Abstract

Water quality parameters were analyzed in Bulakbaşı stream. The in situ measurements and laboratory analyses were made on water samples taken from 4 sampling points on the Bulakbaşı stream monthly. During the study, the average water temperature as 16.3°C, dissolved oxygen (DO) 12.91 mg/L, oxygen saturation (OS) 152.8%, pH 8.25, electrical conductivity (EC) 779.6 μS/cm, salinity 0.435‰, chloride 83.97 mg/L, calcium 56.5 mg/L, magnesium 57.1 mg/L, total hardness 391.1 mg/L CaCO3, carbonate 0 mg/L, bicarbonate 365.95 mg/L, total alkalinity 299.85 mg/L, nitrate 4.74 mg/L, nitrite 20.83 µg/L, ammonium 50.8 µg/L, ammonia 48.3 µg/L, phosphorus 77.5 µg/L, sulfate 57.6 mg/L, potassium 4.52 mg/L, copper and aluminum 0.0 µg/L, total iron 10.1 µg/L, zinc 168.2 µg/L, chromium 24 µg/L, manganese 401.7 µg/L, and cyanide 6.79 µg/L were found. According to EU, WHO, and Turkish standards, Bulakbaşı stream is not polluted and it has suitable quality with respect to drinking, aquaculture, and irrigation.