Assessment of river water quality in the Moravian Karst, Czech Republic

Assessment of river water quality in the Moravian Karst, Czech Republic

en

The Moravian Karst, situated in the eastern part of the Czech Republic, is the most extensive and most developed karst area in the Bohemian Massif. To protect its unique environment, the Moravian Karst was declared a Protected Landscape Area in 1956. Despite the protection, pollution occurs in some disappearing streams both on the earth’s surface and underground, in caves formed by karst processes. The aim of the study was to assess the hydrochemical status of several selected streams and identify the sources of the pollution affecting them. Three streams were monitored, one in each hydrological part of the karst area. Volume flow rate, dissolved oxygen, pH, COD, BOD, NH4-N, NO2-N, NO3-N, total Kjeldahl nitrogen and total phosphorus were determined. The study showed deteriorated water quality at most sampling points, especially in the case of parameters such as organic substances, nitrates, and total phosphorus. Inadequate management methods, the excessive recreational use of ponds located on the studied streams, and the phosphorus load from treated domestic wastewaters are among the main causes. However, the studied stretches were found to have retained their self-purification ability. The stream water quality was already deteriorated when entering the karst area. Thus, it would seem necessary to protect karst streams right from their very source.

The Moravian Karst, situated in the eastern part of the Czech Republic, is the most extensive and most developed karst area in the Bohemian Massif. To protect its unique environment, the Moravian Karst was declared a Protected Landscape Area in 1956. Despite the protection, pollution occurs in some disappearing streams both on the earth’s surface and underground, in caves formed by karst processes. The aim of the study was to assess the hydrochemical status of several selected streams and identify the sources of the pollution affecting them. Three streams were monitored, one in each hydrological part of the karst area. Volume flow rate, dissolved oxygen, pH, COD, BOD, NH4-N, NO2-N, NO3-N, total Kjeldahl nitrogen and total phosphorus were determined. The study showed deteriorated water quality at most sampling points, especially in the case of parameters such as organic substances, nitrates, and total phosphorus. Inadequate management methods, the excessive recreational use of ponds located on the studied streams, and the phosphorus load from treated domestic wastewaters are among the main causes. However, the studied stretches were found to have retained their self-purification ability. The stream water quality was already deteriorated when entering the karst area. Thus, it would seem necessary to protect karst streams right from their very source.