Determination of the water quality of the river Mudurnu and its branches

Key Words: Mudurnu Stream, Benthic Macroinvertebrates, Biotic Indices, T-Test, Water Quality, The aim of this study was to determine the water quality of the Mudurnu Stream by taking benthic macroinvertebrate and water samples from 5 checkpoint in the Mudurnu Stream on monthly basis between November 2006 and April 2007. the received samples were subjected to assessments conducted according to the Bilological Monitoring Working Party Score System (BMWP), Trent Biotic Index (TBI), Belgian Biotic Indices (BBI), Average Score per Taxon (ASPT), Margalef Index, Shannon&Weaver Index and Sımpson Index in terms of species and category. The water quality limits were determined upon assessment of the obtained data. In addition, the water samples received were analyzed based on the chemical and organic parameters and the quality categories were ascertained in accordance with the S.K.K.Y. (Water Pollution Control Directives), Intercontinental Water Resource Quality Criteria and EC (European Community) Water Quality Standards. The conformance between the quality categories of the biotic index and those of chemical and organic parameters were researched. A T-Test was conducted based on the benthic macroinvertebrate samples obtained from the 5 sampling points determined and using the results achieved from the analysis of the BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand), COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand), TKN (Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen), Phenolic substance, NH4 + - N (Ammonium Nitrogen), NO3 - - N (Nitrate Nitrogen) and PO4 -3 - P (Total Phosphor) parameters in assistance of the SPSS 13.0 Program Package. Consequently, BMWP, TBI, BBI, Margalef Index, Shannon&Weaver Index and Simpson Index are found out to be to the most suitable indices fort he Mudurnu Stream. ASPT, however, is concluded to be less useful than other indices. Furthermore, conformance was found out between the quality categories of the biotic index quality classes and those of the chemical and organic parameters except for phenol.