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Izmir Bird Paradise is one of the most valuable wetlands in Turkey, but this area is now being threatened by the drying out of marshes and water pollution. This wetland consists of two ecosystems: fresh-and saltwater. The recharge of marshes is from rainfall, the Gediz River and groundwater from Can Suyu Pond. The water type of the river is Ca-Mg-Na-HCO 3 -SO 4 , whereas the groundwater is a Na-Cl water type. The reasons for the drying are long-term drought (evapotranspiration at 894 mm is >> rainfall at 546 mm), and excessive pumping of groundwater and seawater intrusion into Menemen Plain. Therefore, an additional freshwater resource is necessary. This water can be supplied from the limestone levels of Neogene sedimentary rocks in and around Izmir Bird Paradise that have a Ca-HCO 3 water type. Water pollution levels were also analysed. In the freshwater ecosystem Cd, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb and Zn values, in the open channel in Izmir Bird Paradise Sb, Fe, Ni and Cd values, and in the river Fe, Pb and Sb values exceed the TSE 266 and EPA 2000 standards probably due to agricultural and industrial sources.

The Torbali River Basin is an important part of the Kucuk Menderes Basin in western Turkey, containing a highly productive alluvium aquifer. Hazardous waste from urbanization and industrialization has been stored above the main unconfined alluvial aquifer for the last five years. This study is intended to determine the surficial aquifer vulnerability characteristics and to assess the groundwater pollution mechanism from the hazardous landfill site that is located above the surficial aquifer. Two main vulnerable zones of the aquifer were determined using a GOD vulnerability model. The hazardous solid waste was dumped on a moderately vulnerable zone without any precautionary measure. Leachate seepage from the landfill is a main contaminant for NaCl water types with electrical conductivity (EC) values of 4,275 to 4,575 S/cm. The pH values of the leachate are between 6.3 and 6.6. Concentration of As, Al, Fe, Mn, Ni, Sb, Se and Cd in the leachate are above and Pb, Zn and Cu concentrations are below the drinking water standards. As a result, the waste leachate has a high contaminant content that is causing groundwater pollution in a highly productive vulnerable zone. In this case, this vulnerable zone is not suitable for waste disposal activities, and some improvement studies should be done immediately to protect the main aquifer from the hazardous landfill site.