Flow rate and biological quality of the water in the River Anoia. Water contamination and extraction in a river with a pronounced Mediterranean regime

Abstract:

The authors studied the river Anoia during two consecutive springs and summers (1994-1995) with very different hydrology. While in 1994 the basin was subject to a severe drought, in 1995 the climate was milder. As a result in 1995 the main river maintained a continuous flow throughout most of its length and in most of the tributaries, while in 1994 flow was intermittent in the main channel and the tributaries. Lower fluxes in 1994 resulted in increased pollution which can be measured by both the physico-chemical characteristics of the water and biotic indices. As the basin is used in headwaters for agriculture, water in the upper part is rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, leading to a eutrophication process with Cladophora abundant in the river, although the macroinvertebrate community is still rich. In the middle part of the basin, in summer, the community is reduced in abundance and diversity due to the water abstraction and pollution, especially in 1994.

Año de publicación:

1997

Keywords:

Fuente:

scopus