The Anthropogenic Impact on Surface Water Resources in Azerbaijan

Abstract

The development of oil-gas, chemical and petrochemical industries is associated with the discharge of large amount of toxic substances into the environment. The present paper discusses the impact of anthropogenic discharges on surface water resources in case of four water basins in the Absheron industrial region - Boyuk-Shore, Hoja-Hasan, Bulbula and Girmizy lakes. Water samples collected from different parts of these lakes were analyzed for temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), salinity, electrical conductivity, petroleum compounds, phenols, heavy metals, biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), surface active agents (SAA), suspended particulates as well as nitrite, nitrate, ammonium and chloride contents. In addition, bottom sediments of the lakes were analyzed for petroleum compounds, heavy metals, nitrates and sulfates. The results show that long-term anthropogenic impact has led to the destruction of important water basins in the Absheron Peninsula.