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The Arda River is the main river course in the mountain range Rhodopes located in Southern Bulgaria. Its river basin is characterized by highly variable relief and diversified geological and hydrogeological conditions. The groundwater is recharged mostly from precipitation and forms baseflow of the Arda River and its tributaries. The aim of the stu...
Citations
... As a result of the review of the available scientific literature, a limited number of publications related to the selected area of research were identified. The researches concern various scientific aspects [9][10][11][12][13] . ...
The physicochemical properties of river water are a key factor for assessing the quality
state of a given aquatic ecosystem. Nowadays, the pollution of surface waters, including river systems
is mostly related to the anthropogenic pressure exerted directly on them, or indirectly on the
catchment area. The main goal of this article is to determine the water quality of the Arda River, the
main tributary of the Maritsa River, Bulgaria, in a spatial and temporal aspect, through analysis and
assessment of the physicochemical state of the river waters. Water samples were analysed for the
period 2015–2023 at four points along the Arda River and 10 physicochemical quality parameters
were analysed. In the article, a Canadian complex index for water quality assessment, comparative
and graphical methods were applied. The study area was visualised using geographic information
systems (GIS). According to the obtained results, the surface waters of the Arda river generally
“maintain” a satisfactory quality status according to the norms. The most frequent are the excesses
of the values registered above the norms (up to 10 times) for the physicochemical indicators nitrates
(N–NO2) and total N. Exceeded reference values for orthophosphates (P–PO4), total N and total P,
pH are less common. In addition, the obtained results can be used both in the preparation of specific
policies for sustainable management and use of river waters in the Arda river basin, as well as serve
as a good basis for further research.
This article presents the assessment results of the long-term annual average groundwater recharge for the territory of the Tundzha River catchment area. In order to assess those results, a GIS-method has been applied based on spatial analysis of the slope of the relief, soil cover and aquifer properties. A series of maps is presented and a quantitative analysis of the results obtained is carried out. The mean annual groundwater recharge ranges from 4 to 483 mm, or about 55 mm on average for the catchment area. Additional calculations have been made for water management purposes. For individual groundwater bodies that fall into the catchment area of the Tundzha River (managed primarily by the East Aegean River Basin Directorate) both groundwater recharge and their natural groundwater resources were assessed (based on the outcrop areas of the respective bodies).
