Physiochemical and microbiological investigation of Bektaşağa Pond in Sinop province (center)

In this study conducted in Bektaşağa Pond, various physicochemical and microbiological properties of the pond water were determined over a period of six months between November 2022 and April 2023 by sampling once a month from two different stations. Physicochemical parameters such as pH, temperature, electrical conductivity (EC), oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), salinity, nitrate, nitrite and total dissolved solids (TDS) and microbial pollution indicators such as total coliform, fecal coliform and fecal streptococcus were investigated. Membrane filtration method was used to determine the microbial pollution level and electrochemical methods were used to determine nitrite and nitrate. As a result of the measurements and analyzes carried out with the samples taken from the sampling points, it was determined that the pond water was in the category of waters that become potable after simple physical treatment and disinfection (A1) according to the 'Regulation on the Quality and Treatment of Water Supplied for Drinking Water' in terms of physicochemical parameters (pH, EC, nitrite, nitrate and TDS) and that it has water quality in accordance with the quality criteria in terms of 'Regulation on Water Intended for Human Consumption'. In terms of the microbiological parameters examined, it was concluded that there was an increase in microbial contamination with the increase in precipitation in December and according to the 'Regulation on the Quality and Treatment of Drinking Water Supply Waters', it was concluded that it was in the class of waters that become potable after physical treatment, chemical treatment and disinfection (A2) in terms of total coliform bacteria count, and in the class of waters that become potable after physical treatment and disinfection (A1) in terms of fecal coliform and fecal streptococcus count. According to the 'Regulation on Water Intended for Human Consumption', it was determined that there was low level pollution in the pond in terms of total coliform and fecal coliform.