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This study aimed to determine the physicochemical characteristics of the water quality and trophic state of Akgöl Lagoon located in the eastern Mediterranean. Cluster analysis clearly revealed the spatial heterogeneity classifying sampling stations as saline and freshwater/brackish water sites. A multivariate analysis of variance followed by principal component analysis supported that salinity was major factor affecting physicochemical water quality variations in the lagoon. As salinity was mainly governed by freshwater inflows depending on agricultural irrigation, it can be proposed that water quality was significantly influenced from freshwater use by human activities. The parameters used as predictors (total nitrogen, total phosphorus, chlorophyll a and Secchi disk transparency) yielded different trophic states for the lagoon. However, as chlorophyll is a better predictor than the other indices, it was concluded that the Akgöl Lagoon is at mesotrophic status.

This study aimed to check the effectiveness of water quality indices (WQIs) in the specific assessment of trout culture impacts on a stream water quality by selecting the parameters in various approaches. Water quality was monitored monthly for a period of 1 year in one reference point and four affected stream reaches in which discharges from intensive trout farms, and rural and agricultural activities were present. The objective WQI calculation using 24 parameters and the minimum WQI (WQI(min)) using dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, total phosphorus, ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N), and total nitrogen as major indicators in trout farm effluents could not distinguish the aquaculture-impacted stream reaches. However, WQI(min) calculation with NH4+-N, total organic nitrogen (TON), soluble reactive phosphorus, and total organic phosphorus which were selected using the principal component analysis findings meaningfully classified the sampling points. Further reduction of parameters to NH4+-N and TON in WQI(min) calculation achieved a similar successful classification of the sampling points. This study showed that WQI(min) calculated using NIH4+-N and TON is a useful and easily applicable methodology in the assessment of the impacts of trout farm effluents on the stream water quality. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

In this study, some physicochemical properties of surface waters of the lower Euphrates Basin in the Southeastern Anatolia region were investigated. The water sources investigated are Ataturk, Birecik, Karkamis and Haci Hidir Dam lakes and Euphrates River together with eight streams which are major running waters of the sub-basin. Total 20 variables consisting of temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, total dissolved and suspended solids, biochemical oxygen demand, total hardness, total alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, fluoride, sulfate, ammonia nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen and reactive phosphorus were monitored in surface waters. Significant relationships between dissolved ions, conductivity, hardness and alkalinity were observed. While most of the surface waters had middle hard and slightly alkaline characteristics with moderate dissolved solids and low organic matter content, Haci Hidir Dam lake and Nizip Stream separated from them in terms of investigated variables. © Medwell Journals, 2010.