Abstract

The Gediz River, located in western Turkey, drains a region with a high population density and a strong economic activity. These factors, together with a lack of facilities for appropriate treatment of domestic and industrial sewage, are putting increasing pressure on water resources. The aim of the present study was to identify point sources of detergent pollution and to assess the surface water quality in the Gediz River by monitoring physicochemical variables. Point sources of wastewater, including some with a high pollution load, were detected in the most populated and industrialized areas of Manisa and Muradiye municipalities. These sources contribute to increasing degradation of water quality observed in the river.Concentrations of anionic detergents and phosphate were 0.084 - 5.592 g m^-3 and 0.0044 - 0.248 g m^-3, respectively. Gediz River is a significant contributor of nutrients to the Aegean Sea.

Key words: Gediz River, pollution, anionic detergent, phosphate, water quality.