Water and Sediment Quality Status of the Toplluha River in Kosovo

The surface water quality and level of metal contents in the contamination of the Toplluha river sediment were determined by means of statistical techniques and pollution indicators. The samples of water and sediments were taken in five different locations along the Toplluha river in the spring period 2013 and 2019 using standard methods for analysis. International standards (WHO 2004) were used to assess the quality of water. The samples of water in some of the locations were above these criteria levels. The heavy metal contents in the sediment were in the following order: Cu > Zn > Cr > Ni > Pb > Cd. For the evaluation of the heavy metal content, some factors were applied: enrichment factor (EF), pollution load index (PLI) and index of geoccumulation (Igeo). Cu and Pb have a significance enrichment according to the calculated EF values. The Igeo index values for Cu and Zn were at a higher level. The PLI index values were at a progressive high level from stations S3 to S5. Therefore, the preliminary treatment of the discharging waters is indispensable.