Chemical and biological tests of the river water in Maeikiai district

Maeiki Merkelio Rakausko gimnazija

Chemical and biological tests of the river water in Maeikiai district

All waters of the area belong to the Venta basin. There are about 100 rivers and streams of different length, 16 of them longer than 10 km., with a total length of 372 km. Larger rivers are Venta, Varduva, erkn, Vadakstis, Vieet. The longest river is Varduva which runs 74.1 km. in the area.

Chemical and biological tests of rivers water in Maeikiai district

The landscape is enriched by diversity, nature, ponds (there are even 57 of them with the total area of 533 hectares). Modern hydraulic structures are constructed on some ponds which are near the rivers like Varduva, erkn, Vadakstis, Ava. On these rivers small hydroelectric power stations (Renavas, Juodeikiai, erknnai, Kulnai) are built .

Chemical and biological tests of rivers water in Maeikiai district

The district has only six lakes with a total area of just 432 hectares. The largest and most valuable is Plinkiai Lake (393.5 hectares). Near the town Seda there is Sedula Lake (33.1 ha). The lake is oblong, its length is 2.1 km and a maximum width only 0.2 km. Other lakes are Balnlis, Medialenk, Maigai and Meiiai.

Chemical and biological tests of rivers water in Maeikiai district

Along the rivers and rivulets there are 12 scattered burial mounds. Rimoliai, Vadagiai, Renavas, Dapiai, Daubariai are mostly visited by tourists.

Work Process

Oxygen
Dissolved oxygen content in water indicates the contamination rate (the less oxygen dissolves in water, the more polluted the water is). If the dissolved oxygen content in natural water is less than 3.0 mg / l it can be used for drinking and domestic usage.

Ox ygen, m g/ l
0

6,3 C ontrol (Tap water) enta R iver V K vist R iver V arduva R iver

6,3 V ieet R iver erkn R iver

Ammonium
The concentration limit of ammonium is 0,5 mg/l

A m m o n iu m , m g / l

0,2

0,2

0 0,2 0,2

Control (Tap water) Venta River Vieet River K vist River Varduva River erkn River

Nitrite
Nitrite ions are particularly dangerous as they may cause cancer. The concentration limit of these ions is 0,5 mg/l for adults and 0,02 mg/l for infants.

N itr ite , m g / l

10

10

10 10

10

C o n tr o l (T a p w a te r ) V e n ta R ive r V ie e t R ive r K vist R ive r V a r d u va R ive r e r k n R ive r

Phosphate
Excess of phosphate in natural waters, running water can kill plants, fish and other living organisms as contaminated water emits an unpleasant odor, and the water becomes green and slimy. In the past, one of the major sources of phosphate were detergents. Phosphate pollution used to spread from sewage and wastewater from farms, agricultural fields.

P h osph ate, m g/ l

0,5

0,25 0,25

0,25

0,5

C ontrol (Tap w ater) V enta R iver V ieet R iver K vist R iver V arduva R iver erkn R iver

Nitrate
The excess of nitrates in surface waters intensively provokes the growth of algae. When algae die they pollute the water. The excess of nitrate in drinking water can cause health problems. The excess is particularly dangerous to newborns. The maximum nitrate in drinking water is 10 mg/l.

N itrate , m g / l

0,05

0,01 0

0,1

0,25

C ontrol (Tap w ater) V enta R iver V ieet R iver K vist R iver V arduva R iver erkn R iver

pH
pH is extremely important in assessing the quality of the water. The water pH medium (acidic or alkaline) depends on the waters biological and biochemical processes. pH has the influence on the speed of water plants growth. Due to pH, metal constructions (bridges, balks, etc.) can start rusting. Drinking water should not exceed 6.5 to 8.5 pH range.

pH

6 6,5 6

7,5

C ontrol (Tap w ater) V enta R iver V ieet R iver K vist R iver V arduva R iver erkn R iver

Water conduction
Electrical good drinking water from the tap is the conductivity of 600 micro Simens (S / cm). When the water conductivity varies between 5-7 S / cm, the water is distilled.

W a te r co n d u ctio n ( S / cm )

26

35

25 37

C ontrol (Tap w ater) V enta R iver V ieet R iver K vist R iver V arduva R iver erkn R iver

Free and total chlorine

It is used for water disinfection. To the rivers chlorine falls with municipal sewage. Rate of 0.08 mg / l.

F r e e a n d to ta l ch lo r in e m g / l

0 ,1

0 ,1

0 ,5

0 ,5

C on tr o l (T a p w a te r ) V e nta R ive r V ie e t R ive r K vist R ive r V ar duva R ive r e r kn R ive r

Iron, Fe
Iron is found in all surfaces and underground waters. The maximum allowable concentration of iron in waters intended for household and farming needs is 0.3 mg / l.

Copper, Cu
Copper is essential for many vital functions of organisms. Plants take it out of the soil, man and animals get it from food. High doses of copper vertebrates cause diarrhea, respiratory disturbances, heart, liver function, anemia.

Copper, Cu m g/ l

0 0,1

0,1

0,5

C on trol (Tap w ater) V enta R iver V ieet R iver K vist R ive r V ar duva R iver er kn R ive r

Total alkalinity
Alkalinity shows how much the tested water has alkaline substances, hydrogen reacts with strong acids, i.e., with hydrogen ions. Alkalinity is an important indicator of drinking water for effecting plants, waste water, heating or cooling systems.

To tal a lk alin ity m g / l

80

0 120

40

40

C ontrol (Tap w ater) V enta R iver V ieet R iver K vist R iver V arduva R iver erkn R iver

Total hardness
Hard water is not suitable for cooking at home as it can cause cardiovascular and urinary excretion system disorders. The total water supply for drinking water hardness must be less than 7 mg-eq / l, good no more than 10 mg-eq /l.

To tal h ardn ess m g/ l

15

25 0

50

C ontrol (Tap w ater) V enta R iver V ieet R iver K vist R iver V arduva R iver erkn R iver

Animals
There are 38 species of dragonflies in Maeikiai district. They usually fly over water and forest lanes. The larvae are living in the water and they are predatores. Green Club-tailed Dragonfly, included in the Red data book of Lithuania, lives in the clear oxygen filled water of the river Varduva. Broad-winged damselflies are found in all rivers.

Animals
Swan mussels are the most widely spread limpet species living in the rivers. These limpets eat organic residues of plants and small animals. These bivalves are good water filtrators (during the day they filter several dozen liters of water). An important condition is that in all seasons there would be sufficient amount of oxygen in the water.

Animals
The Brown Trout is sparsely found in the erkn and Vieet rivers. This fish is rare in Lithuania, therefore, it is banned to fish them during spawning.

Animals
The Spined Loach, Gudgeon and Bleak are typical fish of rivers and they are rather rare.

Animals
The most beautiful bird in Lithuania - European Kingfisher is found on the banks of all investigated rivers. These birds dig small caves on the banks of streams where they breed.

Animals
The beavers live in all of our surveyed rivers. Many beaver dams are in Vieet River and less in Varduva River. But in erkn River the amount of them is very low because its water is extremely cold.

Plants
Stiff White Water Crowfoot is one of more than 700 plant species growing in the area. It is a rare and protected plant species. This plant grows in the beds of Varduva and erkn rivers.

Conclusions
We havent found iron ions in any investigated rivers. Dissolved oxygen, ammonia content and pH of all the rivers are in the normal range. About 10 mg/l of nitrite are found in all the rivers, what is more than the norm. The level of nitrate does not exceed the limit. Three rare and protected animal species, such as Green Club-tailed Dragonfly, Brown Trout , European Kingfisher, are living in our investigated rivers.

Water tests conducted by Greta Rakauskait, Ernestas Garjonis, Vaida Norkut, Lukas Budreika and Vytautas Raginis. Photos by Algirdas Vilkas and other sources.

2011