Investigation of the boron-organic matter relationship in Turkish streams

The determination of stream water quality and the sources of the pollutants giving rise to the present quality is important for the use and planning of the water resources. For this purpose, the monitoring of tracers and calculation of parameter ratios can be utilized. Similarly, boron and organic carbon can be used as tracers in groundwaters by examining their intercorrelation and information regarding the water quality can be gained. In Turkey, water resources are under high pressure due to population increase and insufficient wastewater treatment plants together with inadequate treatment. This emphasizes the importance of protecting clean water resources in Turkey and also in the world. The protection of water resources can be accomplished primarily by investigating them with detailed analysis procedures and consequently obtaining information about them. In this study, in order to determine the effects of human activities on water resources in Turkish streams, the relationship between organic matter and boron has been investigated. The organic matter is represented by BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand). The relationship has been analyzed by parametric and nonparametric techniques and the correlations established have been tested for significance. 21 stations on western and inner Anatolian streams have been chosen as they are important with respect to their boron content. Data from DSI (Directorate of Turkish Water Works) have been utilized and it has been found out that the pollution and quality levels in these streams affect the correlations between organic matter and boron. The investigation has been augmented by chloride, nitrate and sodium concentrations and their respective ratios. In this way, for every station, the anthropogenic contributions to water pollution have been determined.