Impact of wastewater discharges to Danube surface water pollution by emerging and priority pollutants in the vicinity of Novi sad, Serbia

Abstract

© by PSP. The wastewater (municipal and industrial) discharged directly into the Danube in the vicinity of Novi Sad. Danube surface water, wastewater and raw water used for drinking water production were analyzed. Sampling campaigns during summer and autumn in 2012 were conducted. The research activities were planned within NATO International Project in order to gain more insight into occurrence, concentration levels and sources of emerging and priority pollutants sources in this area. According to screening analysis in sampling campaigns in 2011, sixty nine organic compounds were selected for target analysis. In the first sampling campaign in 2012, twenty nine organic compounds were detected in water samples among sixty nine selected compounds. The second target campaign was broadening to inorganic emerging and priority pollutants. In comparison to the first target campaign, thirteen organic compounds were detected only at wastewater discharges, indicating pollution of the Danube by municipal wastewater from the city of Novi Sad and its surrounding. The special attention should be focused to some priority pollutants such as octylphenols, di-(ethylhexyl)-phthalate, DDT, endosulfan, dieldrin, endrin and some heavy toxic metal ions which concentrations in the Danube surface water samples exceeded proposed annual average environmental quality standard (AA EQS) values for inland surface waters. These target analysis are the basis for selection of the most adequate early warning system (EWS) for monitoring of the quality of raw water used for drinking water production in the city of Novi Sad.