Assessing the distribution of trace elements in water from Batllava Lake (Kosovo)

• DOI: 10.1007/s40899-017-0077-8
• Publication Date: 2017-01-24T10:32:17Z
• Authors: Fatbardh Gashi; Stanislav Frančiš...; Halka Bilinski; Ardian Rexhepi; Ajnishahe Robaj
• Keywords: Physico-chemical parameters ; Multielemental analysis ; ICP-MS technique ; Batllava Lake (Kosovo) ; Water pollution assessment; 13. Climate action; 01 natural sciences; 6. Clean water; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences

The aim of this work was to perform a preliminary multielemental research of water of Batllava artificial Lake (Kosovo), the main source of potable water for the city of Prishtina and surroundings, using ICP-MS method. Besides that, physico-chemical parameters were determined. From obtained data a detailed assessment of water quality was performed. From physico-chemical parameters turbidity (8.0–17 NTU) and chemical consumption of KMnO4(79.02–110.62 mgdm− 3) significantly exceed in all samples allowed WHO limits for drinking water, what might be a sign of anthropogenic environmental pollution. Boxplot statistical method performed on Na, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb showed that only Zn has one extreme value (125 µgdm− 3) and this is assumed to be of natural origin. According to concentrations of Cu, Zn, Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb, which are compared with Croatian legislation for surface freshwaters, water of Batllava Lake is rather clean, as all metals on all stations, except Zn on one station, belong to either I, II or III category. Only Fe has on three locations concentrations slightly higher than recommended WHO standard for drinking water (300.00 µgdm−3), what could be due to lithology of this part of Kosovo. Even situation with water quality of Batllava Lake is overall rather good, establishing of regular monitoring could be advised, especially with respect to iron, zinc and increased turbidity of water. Also, a slight treatment of Batllava Lake water is advised prior to human use, especially in terms of eliminating of present particles from water and lowering of Fe-content.