Assessment of seasonal variations of trace metals and nutrients in Çağlayan, Fırtına and İki̇zdere streams

In this study, the assessment of ecological status and pollution loads of the Çağlayan, Fırtına and İkizdere rivers in the region of Rize have been aimed. To assess the seasonal changes 17 stations in the rivers were selected and surveys were conducted between November 2013-July 2014. Seasonal temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen and conductivity were measured in places of the stations. Nutrients; Nitrate (NO3-N), Nitrite (NO2-N) Ammonia (NH3-N), o-Phosphate (o-PO4), Total Phosphorus (TP), Total Suspended Solid (TSS), permanganate index (Organic Matter), Detergent, Total Hardness, Chlorophyll-a and dissolved and particulate metals (Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Pb) were measured in the laboratory. The results obtained were classified regarding the criteria's of European Commission Directive (EC 1998), US EPA National Recommended Water Quality Criteria (EPA, 2009), World Health Organization Guidelines for Drinking-Water Quality (WHO, 2011) and Turkish Surface Water Quality Regulation (2015). Results obtained from three streams were found to be lower than legal limits proposed by EC L 330/05 1998, US EPA 2009, WHO 2011 and Turkish legal limit (2015).