CHEMOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF THE WATER OF SITNICA RIVER

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine the water quality of the Sitnica river through the research and determination of some physico-chemical parameters of this water and the degree of pollution with heavy metals and various effluents along the entire flow of the river, within the borders of Republic of Kosovo. The geographical positions of sampling spots were determined by GPS, make GARMIN GEKO, 12 сhannel. The number of sampling spots is 9, and samples in every sampling spot were taken to determine the chemical parameters.The tracking of heavy materials is done through the ICP-MS and ICP-OES method. Following the results of our analyses it found that the temperature is almost unchanged and it is between 11.5 and 12 degrees. Electrical conductivity, starting from the spring, is increasing and it reaches the maximum rate (840 μS/cm) at point S5 (Palaj) as a consequence of industrial water spill and other anthropogenic polluters and again after that it starts to drop down along the flow of the river. The pH of water is between 7.83 in S1(Jezerc) and 8.6 in S3 (Lipjan). The turbidity is also increasing in S5. Total hardness reaches the maximum rate in S4 (Lismir), but it drops again, while the alkalinity reaches the maximum rate in S5. At sampling spot S4, metals Ni, Co, Si, Zn are noted for the maximum concentration comparing to other points, except in sampling spot S9(Mitrovica), where the rate is over 250 μg/dm3 . At the sampling point S9, the maximum content of cadmium is observed, at the point S2( Rubovich) - iron, at the point S1 – chromium. According to the performed chemical analysis, it can be concluded that the pollution of the Sitnitsa River is caused by anthropogenic sources, especially at sampling points S4, S5, S6 (Plemetin) and S9. Namely, where the river Drenica flows into Sitnica, which carries the industrial waters of the ferronickel plant (S4), then S5 and S6, where industrial waters come from thermal plants, and S9, where industrial waters come from the ore smelter in Mitrovica.