Some water quality parameters of Berdan river (Tarsus-İçel) and its interaction with its river basin

This study was carried out in six stations between December 2008 and November 2009 in order to analyze some parameters of pollution in Berdan River and to evaluate water quality and its interaction with its river basinIn the study, the parameters and the levels of water quality are observed as the following: temperature: 9,60-28,70 °C, pH: 7,65-8,72, dissolved oxygen: 5,10-13,50 mg/l, salinity: 0,10-2,30 mg/g, electrical conductivity: 118-4255 µs/cm, total hardness:134,90-1010,80 mg CaCO3/l, total alkalinity: 126-248 mg CaCO3/l, suspended solid matter: 1-343 mg/l, chrolophyll-a: 0,27-31,71 mg/m3, chemical oxygen demand: 21,20-136,46 mg/l, nitrite nitrogen: 0,005-0,195 mg/l, nitrate nitrogen: 0,38-3,34 mg/l, ammonium nitrogen: 0,003-0,860 mg/l, total nitrogen: 0,18-7,60 mg/l, orthophosphate: 0,0002-0,9256 mg/l, total phosphorus: 0,02-3,89 mg/l, sediment total kjedahl nitrogen: 306-3482,93 mg/kg and sediment total phosphorus: 143,94-588,81 mg/kg.As a result, according to water quality control regulations; temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrate nitrogen and ammonium nitrogen are determined as the 1st class; Nitrite nitrogen and chemical oxygen demand are determined as 2nd class. Total phosphorus levels are determined as 3rd class. The causes of pollution are observed as industrial and domestic waste water, and mixing fertilizers used in agricultural areas of the river basin with rain water. Berdan River, forms a good receiving environment for waste water from factories, residential and agricultural areas in its river basin and therefore, it poses a threat to the environment of Mediterranean which Berdan River flows into.