Assessment of Contamination Characteristics in Waters of the Kütahya Plain, Turkey (original) (raw)

The contamination characteristics of surface water and groundwaters in the Kütahya plain, one of the most important plains in Turkey, are investigated. In this region, waters of the Porsuk river are used by thousands of people in the city of Eskisehir. A total of 44 spring, river and groundwater samples collected from the region were analyzed for their Ag, Al, As, B, Br, Ca, Cd, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Li, Mg, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, U and Zn contents. A wastewater treatment plant, solid waste disposal site, industrial areas, agricultural activities and aquifers composed of metalliferous rocks are the main pollutants in the study area. It was determined that various elements in spring, river and groundwaters result in different degrees of contamination. According to EPA (2003) standards, all the waters exceed the maximum contaminant level. These waters are carried by the Porsuk river to the Eskisehir basin, and the resulting situation creates a serious health problem for people who live in the cities of Kütahya and Eskisehir.