Water quality assessment of the Borska Reka river using the WPI (water pollution index) method

Abstract

The Borska Reka river (47 km long, 373 km2 of basin area) is located in eastern Serbia and it is the biggest tributary of the river Veliki Timok. It is also one of the most polluted watercourses in Serbia. Using the data of the Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia, the paper analyzes water pollution using the combined physical-chemical WPI index (water pollution index) over two periods: 1993-1996 and 2006-2009. The analysis of parameters showed significantly increased values of heavy metals (especially iron and manganese) which are indicators of inorganic pollution (primarily because of mining), but also increased values of organic pollution indicators (Biological Oxygen Demand-BOD5, ammonium, coliform germs), as the result of uncontrolled domestic wastewater discharge.