Water Quality Monitoring of Meriç and Tunca Rivers (Edirne, Turkey) in Rainy Season

Meriç River is the longest river ecosystem of the Balkans and most lotic ecosystem in Thrace Region of Turkey. Tunca River is one of the most important tributary of Meriç River. Therefore it is significantly effective on the water quality of Meriç River. In this study, water quality of Meriç and Tunca Rivers in rainy season of 2018 was monitored and the pressure of Tunca River on the system was evaluated. Water samples were collected from 2 stations before the rivers mixing during the autumn season of 2018. Total of 13 water quality parameters (1. Dissolved Oxygen; 2. Oxygen Saturation; 3. pH; 4. EC; 5. TDS; 6. Salinity; 7. Turbidity; 8. Nitrate; 9. Nitrite; 10. Ammonium; 11. Phosphate; 12. Sulfate; 13. BOD) were measured. According to detected data, pollution levels of the investigated rivers as follows; Tunca River > Meriç River in general. It was also determined that Tunca River negatively affects and reduces the water quality of Meriç River.