Evaluation of the water quality of the Shkumbini river in the Elbasan area

River is one of the main rivers with a length of 181 km. The watershed of this river (2445 km), includes the eastern and central part of Albania, and is characterized by forested areas. Part of the water is collected from deforested areas with high erosion. Natural factors (erosion) are dominant in the upper stream of the river, contributing to the values of TSS and different metals. But the anthropogenic factor, which is related to urban emissions and industrial activities, has a big impact. This happens in the middle stream of the river flow (Elbasan field). For this purpose, the water quality of the Shkumbini river was monitored for 4 years (2017-2020) in two stations (Labinot and Paper). Ten physico-chemical parameters. pH, Total hardness (TH), Nitrite (NO-2) , Nitrate (NO-3), Chloride (Cl-), Alkalinity, TSS and TDS, DO and Conductivity (EC) were analyzed and compared with WHO standard values and NIVA classification. The evaluation shows that we have an impact of human and industrial activity on the river waters. Determining the level of anthropogenic pollution is very important since about 28,000 ha of agricultural land is irrigated by this river

Drinking water quality determination through the water pollution indicators, Elbasan district

Today's drinking water supply in the Elbasan district continues to be an issue of concern. The population growth nowadays is accompanied by the increase of request for water use. To complete their needs, people have chosen to use groundwater by opening wells. Having their personal well does not guarantee water safety. The aim of this paper is to determine the quality of drinking water through coliform bacteria indicators, in Elbasan district. There are three groups of coliform bacteria, total coliform, intestinal enterococci and Escherichia coli. Each of these is an indicator of drinking water quality and each has a different level of risk. In this study are analyzed many water samples taken from villages Labinot fushë, Gjergjan, Papër, Shushicë, and Bradashesh. In some of these villages, the water samples are taken from wells and pipes. The total coliform, E. coli, and intestinal enterococci in drinking water of these villages are reflected in this study. The data recorded shows which of the analyzed water sources are within the international standards to be used as drinking water. The coliform pollution levels are higher in the wells water than in the pipes one. The distant areas from the city of Elbasan are more polluted than those nearby

Toxicity tests using living organisms

Toxic chemicals pose a serious and continuous risk for specific parts of the food chain, leading to the extinction of different communities. The effects of toxins might be direct or indirect. The sub lethal effects lead to the change of the behavior of an organism. The acute or chronic tests might be performed for water or terrestrial organisms, according to the OECD standards, in different levels of the food chain and thus it is possible to predict the pollution effect in the ecosystem. This study has taken in consideration the acute and chronic tests using Daphnia sp. The goal of the research is the behavior evaluation of these organisms, common inhabitants of water systems, towards the change of the concentration of different chemicals. These organisms are taken from their natural habitat and then raised in laboratory conditions, in accordance with their natural habitat needs. Acute tests are performed using different concentrations of specific chemicals. Physical-chemical parameters of their natural water habitat are taken in consideration as well. The experimental laboratory data are then elaborated in order to determine the highest concentration of the tested chemical that shows adverse effects on Daphnia population, as well as the lowest concentration with no effect. The laboratory results are evaluated and compared with other similar studies