Assessment of Agricultural Pressure on Water Quality of a Significant Component in Meriç River Basin: Sazlıdere Stream

Özet

Meriç River Basin is one of most a significant watershed for the Balkans and the most significant aquatic habitat for Thrace Region of Turkey.
Sazlıdere Stream, which is located on the Edirne Province, is one of most significant tributaries of Meriç River. In the present research, surface
water quality of Sazlıdere Stream was investigated and the pressure of agricultural applications conducted around the system was assessed in
terms of some physical and chemical water characteristics of the stream. Surface water samples were taken in the winter season of 2019 from
6 stations (from upstream to downstream) and some water quality parameters including pH, oxygen saturation, EC, dissolved oxygen, TDS,
turbidity, nitrate, phosphate, nitrite, salinity, COD and BOD) were measured. Also Cluster Analysis (CA) was applied to the results in order
to classify the investigated stations in terms of similar water quality characteristics. As a result of detected physicochemical data, it was determined
that Sazlıdere Stream has an alkaline water character and has moderate salty water (C2 – C3) in term of total concentration of soluble
salts and it has Class II. – III. water quality in general. According to the results of CA, 2 statistically significant clusters were formed, which
were named as “Uncontaminated Regions (C1)” and “Contaminated Regions (C2)”.