DOI: 10.2478/jwld-2013-0012 © Polish Academy of Sciences, Committee for Land Reclamation JOURNAL OF WATER AND LAND DEVELOPMENT and Environmental Engineering in Agriculture, 2013 J. Water Land Dev. 2013, No. 19 (VII–XII): 23–30 © Institute of Technology and Life Science, 2013 PL ISSN 1429–7426 Available (PDF): www.itep.edu.pl/wydawnictwo; http://versita.com/jwld/ Received 06.06.2013 Reviewed 22.07.2013 Accepted 10.10.2013 The effect of effluents A – study design B – data collection from rainbow trout ponds C – statistical analysis D – data interpretation E – manuscript preparation on water quality in the Gowienica River F – literature search Małgorzata BONISŁAWSKA1) ABDEF, Adam TAŃSKI2) ADE, Małgorzata MOKRZYCKA1) BDF, Adam BRYSIEWICZ3) EF, Arkadiusz NĘDZAREK1) E, Agnieszka TÓRZ1) E 1) West Pomeranian University of Technology Szczecin, Department of Aquatic Sozology, K. Królewicza Street 4, 71-550 Szczecin, Poland, e-mail: [email protected] 2) West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, Division of Hydrobiology, Ichthyology and Biotechnology of Reproduction, Szczecin, Poland 3) Institute of Technology and Natural Sciences, Western Pomeranian Research Centre in Szczecin, Czesława Street 9, 71- 504 Szczecin, Poland For citation: Bonisławska M., Tański A., Mokrzycka M., Brysiewicz A., Nędzarek A., Tórz A. 2013. The effect of efflu- ents from rainbow trout ponds on water quality in the Gowienica River. Journal of Water and Land Develop- ment. No. 19 p. 23–30 Abstract Fish farming and especially rearing and breeding of rainbow trout and carp is one of potential sources of surface water pollution. The study was aimed at assessing the effect of a rainbow trout farm on water quality in the Gowienica River in winter. Temperature, pH, electrolytic conductivity, total suspended solids, dissolved ox- ygen, BOD5, CODCr, alkalinity, water hardness, calcium, magnesium, ammonium-nitrogen, nitrate-nitrogen (III and V) and total phosphorus were determined according to Polish Norms and APHA [1995] in water samples collected in winter up- and downstream the study object. The increment of pollutant concentrations in rainbow trout farm effluents was referred to the requirements in Rozporządzenie MŚ [2006]. Performed studies and literature review show that effluents from the assessed fish farm did not worsen wa- ter quality of the river. Increased concentrations of total suspended solids and CODCr in effluents were noted only in March. According to data from the report on environmental status in zachodniopomorskie province in the years 2008–2011, poor water quality of the Gowienica River is recorded already upstream the rainbow trout farm. Pollution of this stretch of the river may originate from uncontrolled waste water management and from nutrient runoff from fields. Key words: indices of surface water quality, rainbow trout ponds, water quality INTRODUCTION river water quality and seasonally change its flows. On the other hand, the changes may influence the riv- Dynamic development of fish farms that produce er biodiversity [MADEYSKI 2001; MURAT-BŁA- mainly rainbow trout and carp may result in the pollu- ŻEJEWSKA 2001]. Effluents from fish rearing and tion of surface waters which feed ponds and at the breeding ponds contain a large percent of nutrients. same time are effluent recipients [SOBOCIŃSKI et al. When flowing through a fishpond, river waters be- 2003; QUANT et al. 2009]. Such fish farms may affect come polluted which means an increase in BOD5, © Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN) in Warsaw, 2013; © Institute of Technology and Life Science (ITP) in Falenty, 2013 24 M. BONISŁAWSKA et al. COD, and in the concentration of nutrients (nitrate- OBJECT AND STUDY METHODS nitrogen, ammonium-nitrogen, total nitrogen, total phosphorus) and suspended solids [SOBOCIŃSKI et al. Studies were carried out in winter since Novem- 2003; TELEŻYŃSKI 2004; QUANT et al. 2009]. The im- ber 2010 till March 2011. Water for analyses was pact of fish rearing on surface waters depends on sampled acc. to the norm [PN-ISO 5667-6: 2003] many factors, mainly on water intake, fish stock, from the Gowienica River in two sites: I – upstream amount and quality of fodder and on the proportion of and II – downstream the fish farm in Łoźnica fodder to water flow and fish stock [PRĄDZYŃSKA (zachodniopomorskie province) (Fig. 1). 2004]. Apart from the main, productive role, fish- ponds retain water in the catchment and mitigate floods during intensive rainfalls [BARSZCZEWSKI, KACA 2012]. Intensive fish farming needs different fodders which, given in appropriate doses, should be highly energetic and easily digestible. A marked progress in fodder production (total abandonment of wet fodder) decreased the amount of nutrients introduced to wa- ters of rainbow trout farms [AMIRKOLAIE 2011; DA- VIDSON et al. 2013; GORYCZKO 2008]. Literature data [KOSTURKIEWICZ, MURATOWA 1993; JEZIERSKA-MA- DZIAR 1995] show that 5–20% of fodder of new gen- eration is ingested by fish. Apart from the remains of unused fodder, water is polluted by fish excreta. Therefore, each fishpond should have a water treat- ment system in a form of commonly used earthen Fig. 1. Catchment basin of the Gowienica River ponds or concrete pools. Such a system enables effec- with marked sites of water sampling upstream (I) tive sedimentation of suspended solids, which are and downstream (II) the rainbow trout farm in Łoźnica; then removed [GORYCZKO 2008]. Moreover, the use source: own study of a foil in the settling pool which serves as a substra- tum for algae and invertebrate fauna may increase the Fish farm is situated on the right of the river in efficiency of water treatment [SZLAUER 1996; 21+750 – 22+670 km of its course and consists of 10 SZLAUER, SZLAUER 1998]. fish fry basins, 5 rearing basins and additional facili- The Gowienica River is a first-order river of ties like: aeration well, pump station, settling tank, a length of 47.9 km, which flows through Maszewo, sludge plots and effluent clarifier (Fig. 2). Goleniów, Osina and Przybiernów communes in The rainbow trout production in the farm is an- zachodniopomorskie province and discharges to nual and amounts 80 t of fish of an individual mass Szczecin Lagoon (Stepnicka Bay). Catchment area of from 20 to 330 g. During the study period, fishponds contained ca. 30 t of fish. Farm owner informed that the river is 364.9 km. and river springs are located in –1 a peat valley in Maszewo commune near the villages water for farm needs is taken at a rate of 350 l·s Burów, Mostów and Pogrzymie. The largest tributary from the river dammed by a weir in 21+900 km of the of the Gowienica is the Stepnica River which dis- river course. charges near Bodzęcin. According to Reports on the Sampling site I was situated 1500 m upstream the environmental status in zachodniopomorskie province farm in Łoźnica. Backwater from the weir did not in the years 2008–2009 and 2010–2011, waters of the reach this site. River in this site was 1.2 m deep and Gowienica River are polluted. High indices of organic 5.0 m wide. The river channel was regulated, banks pollution were noted in the river along the stretch were overgrown by shrubs and the bottom was muddy. from Goleniów Forest till the river outlet in the years Sampling site II was situated 300 m downstream 2010–2011. Then, the status of the Gowienica River the fish farm. River width was 6.5 m and depth waters was estimated as bad [WIOŚ… 2013]. Despite ranged from 0.7 to 0.9 m there, depending on season. unsatisfactory water quality of the river, studies car- Bottom was sandy and muddy. Bands of aquatic vege- ried out in the years 2009–2010 revealed numerous tation were composed of the arrowhead, curly-leaf spawning sites of the sea trout (Salmo trutta m. trutta) pondweed, rushes and, periodically, of duckweeds. in a section from Łoźnica to the river outlet to Step- Water flow was measured with the ultrasonic nicka Bay [TAŃSKI et al. 2011]. The river flows flowmeter during sampling in the upstream site. through Goleniów Forest which belongs to the special Temperature, pH and conductivity were meas- areas of nature protection – Natura 2000. ured in the sampling sites. Then, in the laboratory The aim of the study was to assess the effect of total alkalinity, total hardness, chlorides, calcium and effluents from a rainbow trout farm on water quality magnesium were determined in water with titrimetric in the Gowienica River along the study section. methods according to Polish Norms and APHA [1995]. Various forms of nitrogen and total phospho- rus were determined with colorimetric methods using © PAN in Warsaw, 2013; © ITP in Falenty, 2013; J. Water Land Dev. No. 19 (VII–XII) The effect of effluents from rainbow trout ponds on water quality in the Gowienica River 25 Fig. 2. Detailed scheme of fish farm; source: own study Spectroquant Pharo 300 spectrophotometer at appro- According to recommendations in the Directive priate wavelengths λ (Tab. 1). of the Minister of Environment of 24. July 2006, ele- vated concentration of suspended solids in both sam- Table 1. Analysed water quality parameters and methods of pling points in November was not considered due to their determination torrential rainfall which delivered a large, single load Parameter Method Standard of suspension. Values of particular water quality indices were [PN-C- Temperature, °C CP-103 Elmetron pH- 04584:1977] determined in sampling point I (water feeding the fishpond – WZ) and in sampling point II (effluents – meter and thermometer [PN-C-04540- pH 03:1990] WP). The difference in concentrations (WP – WZ) represented an increase of water pollution by the fish- Suspended solids, [PN-EN gravimetric method mg·dm–3 872:2005], pond. Obtained increment of pollutants was compared with the highest allowable increase of concentrations Dissolved oxygen [PN-ISO –3 iodometric method in waters used for rearing and breeding of salmonid (DO), mg O2·dm 5813:1997] and other fish given in annex 9 to the Directive of the BOD5, method for non-diluted [PN-EN 1899- –3 Minister of Environment of 24.