The impact of rural settlements on water quality in small rivers and drainage channels

Abstract

According to the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC, good water quality in all EU countries should have been achieved by 2015. One of the most important environmental problems is river pollution with insufficiently treated wastewater. Often untreated wastewater of whole or some part of a settlement or separate households is discharged directly to rivers or drainage channels. The aim of this paper is to introduce the impact of the settlements in rural areas on water quality in small rivers and drainage channels. Water quality has been analyzed in Kedainiai and Panevezys districts above and below the villages. The amount of oxygen in water, water temperature and flow rate are measured at the study site. The water samples are collected for identification and evaluation of chemical parameters. The obtained data brings to the conclusion that all the studied villages have a significant impact on small water bodies, especially during the dry season.