Degradation of Topciderska river water quality (Belgrade)

Abstract

In this paper a study of degradation of water quality of Topciderska River has been shown. Topciderska River flows through Belgrade city nucleus and presents one of the most polluted rivers in this area, which joins to Sava river upwards from confluence of Sava and Danube. Various techniques have been used such as Ion chromatography (IC), Inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and measurements, conductonetis and phisical parametars. Anions were analysed with ion chromatography and cations were determined with ICP-OES. The chosen locations in which sampling was done are situated in lower part of Topciderska river. Sediment, as the larges strorage and resorces of heavy metal (HM), plays a rather important role in metal transformations. The pH and HM can directly change metals distribution in sediment; however temperature and conductivity, mainly through changing the pH values, indirectly alters metals distribution. This river is one of the most polluted urban flows in Serbia. It represents good example for studying hydrologic changes influenced by social processes.