Impact of Polluting Sources on Physico-Chemical Properties and Content of Heavy Metals in the Waters of the Morava e Binçës River — Kosovo

Abstract

The problem of providing an adequate supply and supply of drinking water and other necessary water, today more than ever is a global concern because climate change caused by environmental pollution not only has reduced water reserves but has also contributed to the degradation of aquatic biodiversity. Care for the preservation of surface water directly affects the preservation of groundwater quality. Therefore, such a thing has motivated us to explore the water quality of Morava e Binçës, a river that flows and refreshes the northeastern part of Kosovo. To have an accurate assessment, of the quality of river waters, in the research area, we have targeted four monitoring points (S1, S2, S3, and S4), and we are based on some standard ISO and EPA methods, which correspond to the quality of surface waters. The results have shown that during the four seasons of the year, we have encountered Physico-chemical pollution at all monitoring points, but more prominent excesses have resulted during the summer and autumn at the S4 sampling site with COD (159.8mg/L) and BOD5 (64.5 mg/L). While we encountered more pronounced excesses with heavy metals in the summer season in S4 with Mn (0.052mg/L), while in the fall, in S3 with Cd (0.090mg/L). Such pollution has occurred as a consequence of urban and industrial discharges; the use of chemicals in agricultural lands and the presence of the regional doping with the urban waste of Gjilan, located not far from the banks of this river categorizes these waters as poor ecological status.