Phosphorus and nitrogen in the waters of the El‐Kabir River watershed in Syria and Lebanon

Abstract

In order to assess the quality of the waters of the El-Kabir River, which forms the border between Lebanon and Syria, water samples were collected for phosphorus (P) and nitrogen analyses at 39 sample stations in the river watershed (18 in Syria, 21 in Lebanon). These samples were collected on the main stem and three major tributaries (Nahr al-Arous and Nahr Nasrive in Syria, Chadra River in Lebanon). Three major springs also were sampled. The sampling was carried out in Lebanon. The P concentrations were extremely high throughout the watershed, as were the ammonia-nitrogen and nitrate-nitrogen concentrations, indicating extensive pollution. Although the nitrite-nitrogen concentration was relatively low, it is at the upper end of what might be considered normal, thereby perhaps being indicative of some anthropogenic sources. The spring waters were found to be polluted by nutrients. The nutrient sources contributing to the river pollution were mainly from piped, direct sewage discharges from the many settlements throughout the basin. These were supplemented by diffuse sources directly from agricultural fertilizer use and from the indiscriminate disposal of solid wastes into the river and on the stream banks and lands adjacent to the roads of the watershed.

Bacterial indicators of faecal pollution in the waters of the El‐Kabir River and Akkar watershed in Syria and Lebanon

“…The bacterial counts indicate sewage waste disposal in the rural Akkar watershed, implying a lack of treatment infrastructure. This also conforms to the results presented for nutrients in the Akkar watershed by Hassan et al . (2005).…”

“…For both sites L6 and L17, a relationship to the surface land use over the upstream groundwater flow is implicated. This possibility also is discussed with respect to phosphorus (Hassan et al . 2005), adding confirmation of direct (though possibly localized) groundwater pollution by bacteria and nutrients.…”

“…The 41 sampling sites in this study are the same as those used to physically characterize the watershed waters and to assess their nutrient levels (Thomas et al . 2005; Hassan et al . 2005), as shown in Fig.…”

Environmental management of the waters of the El‐Kabir River and the associated Akkar watershed

“…The analysis of the waters of the El‐Kabir River and its major tributaries has clearly shown that the river is highly polluted by human activities in the watershed (Hamze et al . 2005; Hassan et al . 2005; Thomas et al .…”