Evaluation of physical,
chemical and microbiological properties
of lake
Uluabat, Turkey
Ayse Elmaci*, Fatma Olcay Topac,
Nihan Ozengin, Arzu Teksoy, Sudan
Kurtoglu and Huseyin Savas Baskaya
Department of Environmental
Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Uludag University,
Gorukle, Bursa-16059, Turkey
(Received:
May 12, 2006 ; Revised received: March 03, 2007 ;
Accepted: April 20, 2007)
Abstract: Lake Uluabat, known for its
scenic beauty and richness of aquatic life, is situated in Marmara
Region, Bursa (Turkey). On account of its
importance, lake Uluabat was designated by the
Ministry of Environment as a Ramsar site in
1998.Physical, chemical and microbiological parameters of the aquatic ecosystem
in lake Uluabat were measured monthly at five
stations from February 2003 to January 2004. The results showed that lake Uluabat can be classified as Class I with respect to
temperature (16.36 ± 7.47oC), nitrate
nitrogen (0.63 ± 0.50 mgl-1), sodium
(9.64 ± 2.78 mgl-1), chloride (20.45 ± 4.59 mgl-1), sulphate (54.80 ±
29.97 mgl-1); as Class II
with respect to dissolved oxygen (7.62 ±
1.99 mgl-1), ammonium
nitrogen (0.52 ± 0.49 mgl-1),
chemical oxygen demand (35.74±10.66 mgl-1), total coliform (2027
MPN100 ml-1 (average value)); as Class III with respect to
pH (8.69 ± 0.16) and as Class IV with respect to total nitrogen (84.94 ± 66.13 mgl-1), total
phosphorus (1.11 ± 3.01 mgl-1),
biochemical oxygen demand (21.21 ± 6.60 mgl-1) according to TWPCR (Turkey Water Pollution
Control Regulation). The nutrient
content of lake water apparently indicated that lake had an
eutrophic characteristic. Phosphorus was determined
as a limiting factor in lake. The measured hardness values (140.94 ± 14.61 CaCO3 mgl-1) indicated that lake water was classified as soft/hard
during the study period. Eutrophic characteristic of
the lake and contaminant accumulation in water will probably affect the future
use of the lake. Therefore, pollution parameters must be regularly monitored
and evaluated according to aquatic living and local regulations.
Key
words: Water quality, Lake
Uluabat, Ramsar site, Turkey
PDF
of full length paper is available with author (aelmaci@uludag.edu.tr)
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