Assessment of surface water quality on an oil extraction area in Albania

Abstract

Oil extraction activities in Albania are considered as highly polluting for surface waters, but more for the amount of direct spills in riverine waters. The aim of this study was to assess the surface water quality for a period of 5 years (2014-2018) in four seasons based on different physico-chemical parameters in the Seman River, in Zharreza reservoir and drainage canal, located in the district of Fier, Albania. Seventeen chemical parameters were monitored such as pH, DO, EC, TSS, Cl-, NO3-, Total-N, Total-P, BOD5, COD, Cr(VI), Cu2+, Ni2+, Pb2+, Cd2+, Total Oil Grass and Temperature. The values of pH, EC, Cl-, NO3-, Total-N, were in all cases within the limits set by EU, WHO and IFC standards, while DOs were below the limit values of 5.0 mg L-1 in all stations. TSS exceeded the limit value 1000 mg L-1 (according to EU standard) at the two Seman stations. Total-P, BOD5 and COD also exceed the limits of EU and WHO but below the limit values of IFC for surface water of oil extraction fields. Total Oil Grass concentrations were > 0.5 mg L-1 (EU standard) and > 10 mg L-1 according to IFC in all cases except for the three values measured in the Zharreza reservoir. The concentrations of Cr (VI), Pb2+ and Cd2+ were higher than three references, and especially Cd2+ and Pb2+ were up to 20 times more than the standard. Also the concentrations of Cu2+ and Ni2+ were higher, according to IFC both upstream and downstream of Seman River as well as in the drainage channel.