Water quality of the river Váh - Ružomberok (Slovakia), experience after 35-year water treatment
Abstract
The chemistry of the water in the river Váh in the town of Ružomberok was examined. The waste water treatment plant (WWTP) in Ružomberok was built between 1977 and 1982. It was constructed as a joint WWTP for the town sewage as well as for the treatment of industrial waste water. Industrial waste water in the area is primarly a byproduct of the pulp and paper industry near the town, with Mondi SCP producing approximately 600 000 tons of paper and 100 000 tons of pulp for sale each year. Water testing was performed at six sampling sites; four upriver and two downriver from the treatment station. Samples were collected between September 2011 and January 2017. In total 429 samples were analysed, 70 -72 from each site. A significant increase in water pollution was discovered in Hrboltová, downriver from the WWTP. Significantly higher values of total dissolved solids (TDS), conductivity (COND), chemical oxygen demand (COD), salinity, sulphates and other chemical compounds were found downriver from the WWTP. We hypothesize this is a result of insufficient waste water treatment of water used in the production of pulp and paper. Mondi SCP, currently owns the treatment complex, and is also a large industrial contributer in the area. Our data confirms that following 30 years of operation, the plant may require restoration to effectively treat the water going forward.
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