Nutrient and Chlorophyll a Trends after Wastewater Treatment Plant in Izmir Bay (Eastearn Aegean Sea)

The aim of the study is to determine effects of Izmir Big Channel Wastewater Treatment Plant on inorganic nutrients such as NO(3)(-)-N, NO(2)(-)-N, NH(4)(+)-N, PO(4)(-3)-P, Si and Chl-a levels in Izmir bay. Variations of inorganic nutrients and Chl-a were investigated weekly during 1 year period in 2003-2004 in Izmir bay. In addition, physico-chemical environmental parameters such as pH, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), water temperature and salinity were measured. The parameters mentioned above have been carried on in different depths of the 3 sampling stations which were located in middle and inner parts of Izmir bay. The concentration ranges of nutrients and chlorophyll-a were from BDL (Below Detection Limit) to 40.94 mu M for NH(4)(+)-N, BDL to 21.35 mu M for NO(3)(-)-N, BDL to 28.99 mu M for NO(2)(-)-N, BDL to 31.43 mu M for PO(4)(-3)-P, 0.16 to 54.12 mu M for Si and BDL to 66.13 mu g L(-1) for Chlorophyll-a. When the results were compared with those obtained before Izmir waste water treatment plant had been operated, concentrations of Chl a and nitrogen forms declined while it was not the case for PO(4)(-3)-P.