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Water Quality Studies: Assessing the Presence of Nutrients and Pollutants
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Water Quality Studies: Assessing the Presence of Nutrients and Pollutants

A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Water Quality and Contamination".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 August 2025 | Viewed by 8911

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Sara Lehmann-Konera

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Earth Sciences and Spatial Management, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, 2d Kraśnicka Ave., 20-718 Lublin, Poland
Interests: arctic; climate change; river; lakes; creeks; glaciers; sediments; transboundary pollutants; trace elements; persistent organic pollutants
Dr. Anna Maria Sulej-Suchomska

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Quality Management, Faculty of Management and Quality Sciences, Gdynia Maritime University, 81-225 Gdynia, Poland
Interests: environmental analytical chemistry; analytical method development; environmental quality management; organic pollutants; airport runoff water; water quality; management of wastewater/stormwater; toxicity
Dr. Joanna Potapowicz

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdansk University of Technology, 11/12 Narutowicza St., 80-233 Gdansk, Poland
Interests: maritime antarctica; freshwater; sediments; snow; anthropogenic influence; persistent organic pollutants; long-range atmospheric transport; environmental fate; cryosphere degradation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Studies on water quality is particularly important for understanding the present and future environmental challenges occurring due to intensifying human activities and ongoing climate change. Environmental pollutants come from both natural and anthropogenic sources. Significant amounts of pollutants are emitted into the environment in urbanized and industrialized areas of the Northern and Southern hemispheres. The transboundary pollutants are also found in areas lacking local sources, including remote areas such as the Arctic and the Antarctica. To fully understand the environmental changes around us and the possible risks associated with them, it is of paramount importance to develop an interdisciplinary approach to study both spatial and temporal (long-term and short-term) changes in the levels of pollutants in surface waters. In such a research method, special attention should be paid to not only the direct impact of human activities but also to changes in meteorological conditions that can cause a hydrochemical response in surface waters.

This Special Issue aims to publish papers on water quality studies incorporating environmental data and explanations of related factors and processes that may contribute to changes in pollutant levels. Therefore, we encourage authors to submit cross-disciplinary articles on observations of environmental change based on the chemical analysis of various types of surface water (i.e., snow, precipitation, runoff water, rivers, streams, lakes, and marine), groundwater as well as artificial reservoirs in different regions of the world.

Dr. Sara Lehmann-Konera
Dr. Anna Maria Sulej-Suchomska
Guest Editors

Dr. Joanna Potapowicz
Guest Editor Assistant

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Water is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • transboundary pollutants
  • persistent compounds
  • bioaccumulative chemicals
  • toxic contaminants
  • trace elements
  • major ions
  • organic compounds
  • catchment
  • freshwater
  • runoff and discharge
  • climate change impact

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 3511 KiB  
Article
Analytical Method for Polyelectrolytes in Sludge Condensation (Centrate) Units of a Wastewater Treatment Plant
by Aysun Özdemir and Yaşar Nuhoğlu
Water 2025, 17(6), 825; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17060825 - 13 Mar 2025
Viewed by 416
Abstract
Polyelectrolytes (PEs) have a wide range of applications in various industrial processes, including water and wastewater treatment, cosmetics, and the textile industry. They remain irreplaceable as flocculants, particularly in wastewater treatment and sludge dewatering. Due to the variability in the pollutant parameters of [...] Read more.
Polyelectrolytes (PEs) have a wide range of applications in various industrial processes, including water and wastewater treatment, cosmetics, and the textile industry. They remain irreplaceable as flocculants, particularly in wastewater treatment and sludge dewatering. Due to the variability in the pollutant parameters of wastewater over time, residual polyelectrolytes from the sludge dewatering process are inevitable. These residues can alter the physical and chemical properties of water, potentially causing an environmental hazard. Polyelectrolyte residues are a critical concern in wastewater treatment processes, and their concentration measurements represent one of the most essential steps in ensuring process efficiency. This study investigates the use of UV-VIS spectrophotometry to determine the concentrations of PEs used in water and wastewater treatment. The absorbance spectra of two different cationic polyelectrolytes (PEs) were tested in the wavelength range of 190–300 nm. A linear increase in absorbance values was observed with increasing polyelectrolyte concentrations, with R2 > 0.99 at 190 nm wavelengths. The lowest detection limits were determined as 0.05 mg/L in distilled water and 0.085 mg/L in centrate water. For wastewater samples collected from sludge dewatering units, detection limits ranged from 0.08 mg/L to 0.013 mg/L, depending on the type of polymer. The method was successfully applied to determine polymer concentrations in centrate samples collected from two different wastewater treatment plants. It is thought that this study will assist in research on polyelectrolyte analysis in wastewater. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Quality Studies: Assessing the Presence of Nutrients and Pollutants)
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13 pages, 2574 KiB  
Article
A Newly Developed Approach for Analyzing the Degradation of Glyphosate and Aminomethylphosphonic Acid in Different Salinity Levels
by Lai-Chuan Chang, Zhen-Hao Liao and Fan-Hua Nan
Water 2025, 17(5), 645; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17050645 - 23 Feb 2025
Viewed by 495
Abstract
The report for the global presence of herbicide glyphosate and its metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) is presently limited in the marine environment, presumably due to a lack of analytical methods capable of detecting these compounds at low concentrations in high-salinity matrices. In the [...] Read more.
The report for the global presence of herbicide glyphosate and its metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) is presently limited in the marine environment, presumably due to a lack of analytical methods capable of detecting these compounds at low concentrations in high-salinity matrices. In the present study, we aimed to develop a time-saving and reliable method for the analysis of glyphosate and AMPA in different salinity levels of seawater. This novel method integrates a derivatization process with a solid-phase extraction cleanup step to mitigate salt-matrix effects during high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry analysis. The present method was validated in environmental freshwater and seawater with the limit of quantitation of 2 and 0.5 ng/mL and coefficient of variation percentage of 0.63–3.15% and 0.59–3.07% for glyphosate and AMPA, respectively. The degradations of three concentrations of spiked glyphosate (10, 100, 1000 mg/L) were assessed under two treatment conditions: with and without sterilization and at three salinity levels (0, 17.5, 35‰) over a period of 112 days. The results show that glyphosate degradation is significantly higher in non-sterilized water compared to sterilized conditions, indicating that microbial activity is the primary driver of degradation. Furthermore, brackish water appears to provide a more favorable environment for the microbial biodegradation of glyphosate. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Quality Studies: Assessing the Presence of Nutrients and Pollutants)
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15 pages, 2319 KiB  
Article
Water Quality in Estero Salado of Guayaquil Using Three-Way Multivariate Methods of the STATIS Family
by Ana Grijalva-Endara, Juan Diego Valenzuela-Cobos, Fabricio Guevara-Viejó, Patricia Antonieta Macías Mora, Jorge Stalin Quichimbo Moran, Geovanny Ruiz-Muñoz, Purificación Galindo-Villardón and Purificación Vicente-Galindo
Water 2024, 16(15), 2196; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16152196 - 2 Aug 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1529
Abstract
Water property parameters were analyzed over 9 months across six stations within the Estero Salado. The parameters under evaluation included nitrite (NO2−), nitrate (NO3−), phosphate (PO43−), ammonium (NH4+ [...] Read more.
Water property parameters were analyzed over 9 months across six stations within the Estero Salado. The parameters under evaluation included nitrite (NO2−), nitrate (NO3−), phosphate (PO43−), ammonium (NH4+), temperature, pH, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), conductivity, salinity, color, turbidity, suspended solids, hardness, and alkalinity. Additionally, the TRIX index (which measures chlorophyll, oxygen saturation, nitrogen, and phosphorus) was considered. The multivariate technique employed was partial triadic analysis (PTA), a specialized variant developed from STATIS, enabling the examination of the common structure’s stability across months and the positioning of stations and variables within a compromise space. This analysis elucidated a variability of 69% and 96%, respectively. Stations could be characterized based on their associations with specific variables, while the analysis also facilitated the identification of months impacting the common structure of pollution indicators. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Quality Studies: Assessing the Presence of Nutrients and Pollutants)
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27 pages, 12652 KiB  
Article
Ecological Potential of Freshwater Dam Reservoirs Based on Fish Index, First Evaluation in Poland
by Piotr Pieckiel, Krzysztof Kozłowski and Tomasz Kuczyński
Water 2024, 16(15), 2169; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16152169 - 31 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1171
Abstract
A pilot ichthyological index was developed for use within the Water Framework Directive in the area of Central and Eastern Europe for dam reservoirs, which are heavily modified water bodies. This is the first approach to assessing this water body type based on [...] Read more.
A pilot ichthyological index was developed for use within the Water Framework Directive in the area of Central and Eastern Europe for dam reservoirs, which are heavily modified water bodies. This is the first approach to assessing this water body type based on ichthyofauna in Poland. Various fishing gear types were used. The tested dam reservoirs were scattered throughout the country, from lowland to mountainous areas, with very diverse hydrological and morphological characteristics and pressure ranges based on the TSI index. In preliminary work, a correlation matrix with the TSI index’s pressure indicator was tested based on the abundance or biomass of fish species, fish families present, fishing gear used, and fishing depth range for a total of 588 cases. As a result of the tests carried out, the preliminary indicator was based on the ratio of the number of the two families Cyprinidae and Percidae. The correlation between the developed indicator and the pressure index was strong (r = 0.77; p < 0.001). The Percidae family exhibited a strong correlation with the most connections in the matrix. Based on the obtained results, the principle of using already confirmed relationships, such as the ratio between Cyprinidae and Percidae fish families, in the assessment of eutrophication was confirmed to be effective, guaranteeing the effective initial assessment of ecological potential. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Quality Studies: Assessing the Presence of Nutrients and Pollutants)
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17 pages, 4817 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Water and Sediment Quality in Lake Mogan, Türkiye
by Kagan Ozdemir, Mirac Nur Ciner, Huseyin Kurtulus Ozcan and Serdar Aydın
Water 2024, 16(11), 1546; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16111546 - 28 May 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1579
Abstract
The wetlands, with their delicate ecosystems, play a crucial role in regulating water regimes and supporting diverse plant and animal communities, particularly those associated with water habitats. Mogan Lake, located within the Gölbaşı Special Environmental Protection Area, stands out as a unique habitat, [...] Read more.
The wetlands, with their delicate ecosystems, play a crucial role in regulating water regimes and supporting diverse plant and animal communities, particularly those associated with water habitats. Mogan Lake, located within the Gölbaşı Special Environmental Protection Area, stands out as a unique habitat, hosting over 200 bird species. This study aimed to assess the current water quality of Mogan Lake by analysing various water quality variables. Three sampling sites, representing the northern, middle, and southern parts of the lake, were selected to examine both surface water and bottom sludge characteristics through the analysis of 29 pollutant variables. Water samples were collected from 30 cm beneath the water surface and 50 cm above the bottom of the lake. Sediment samples were collected from the sludge at the lake basin. Additionally, to understand their impact on the lake’s water quality, 26 pollutants were also measured in water samples taken from the five main streams that feed the lake. The results reveal a significant level of organic pollution in the lake, along with elevated nitrogen levels indicating hypertrophic conditions. Although organic pollutants were detected in the lake bottom sediment through analysis, they are considered non-hazardous in terms of heavy metals and other inorganic variables. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Quality Studies: Assessing the Presence of Nutrients and Pollutants)
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15 pages, 4482 KiB  
Article
Optimizing Sampling Strategies for Estimating Riverine Nutrient Loads in the Yiluo River Watershed, China
by Guoshuai Zhang, Yanxue Xu, Min Xu, Zhonghua Li and Shunxing Qin
Water 2024, 16(11), 1506; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16111506 - 24 May 2024
Viewed by 1070
Abstract
Accurately estimating nutrient loads is crucial for effective management and monitoring of aquatic ecosystems. This study evaluated the uncertainty in different sampling frequencies and calculation methods for estimating total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) loads in the Yiluo [...] Read more.
Accurately estimating nutrient loads is crucial for effective management and monitoring of aquatic ecosystems. This study evaluated the uncertainty in different sampling frequencies and calculation methods for estimating total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) loads in the Yiluo River watershed, a tributary of the Yellow River in China. Using daily TN and TP concentration data from 2019 to 2020, we conducted a bootstrapping analysis to evaluate the accuracy of nine different load estimation methods at different sampling frequencies. Our results showed that Method 3 (M_3, constant concentration interpolation) and Method 7 (M_7, flow-weighted concentration method), when used with a biweekly sampling frequency, had the lowest Standard Deviation of the Percentage errors (STD) (7.70% and 8.60% for TN, 12.0% and 18.8% for TP, respectively) and Mean Relative Error (MRE) values (0.078% and −1.60% for TN, 0.305% and 2.33% for TP, respectively) on an annual scale. For monthly TN and TP load estimates, M_7 can control the MRE within ±20% at a biweekly sampling frequency. Furthermore, the uncertainty in TN and TP load estimates was generally larger during the summer months (June–September), emphasizing the important role of storm events in nutrient export. Extreme events (<10% of the time) contributed approximately 50% of the annual nutrient loads. The findings of this study provide a scientific basis for optimizing water quality monitoring schemes and management strategies in agricultural watersheds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Quality Studies: Assessing the Presence of Nutrients and Pollutants)
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20 pages, 12761 KiB  
Article
Short-Term Observations of Rainfall Chemistry Composition in Bellsund (SW Spitsbergen, Svalbard)
by Sara Lehmann-Konera, Marek Ruman, Marcin Frankowski, Łukasz Małarzewski, Krzysztof Raczyński, Filip Pawlak, Joanna Jóźwik, Joanna Potapowicz and Żaneta Polkowska
Water 2024, 16(2), 299; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16020299 - 15 Jan 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1526
Abstract
Global warming results in increasingly widespread wildfires, mostly in Siberia, but also in North America and Europe, which are responsible for the uncontrollable emission of pollutants, also to the High Arctic region. This study examines 11 samples of rainfall collected in August in [...] Read more.
Global warming results in increasingly widespread wildfires, mostly in Siberia, but also in North America and Europe, which are responsible for the uncontrollable emission of pollutants, also to the High Arctic region. This study examines 11 samples of rainfall collected in August in a coastal area of southern Bellsund (Svalbard, Norway). It covers detailed analysis of major ions (i.e., Cl−, NO3−, and SO42−) and elements (i.e., Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, and Zn) to Hybrid Single-Particle Langrarian Integrated Trajectory( HYSPLIT) backward air mass trajectories. The research of wildfires, volcanic activities, and dust storms in the Northern Hemisphere has permitted the assessment of their relations to the fluctuations and origins of elements. We distinguished at least 2 days (27 and 28 August) with evident influence of volcanic activity in the Aleutian and Kuril–Kamchatka trenches. Volcanic activity was also observed in the case of the Siberian wildfires, as confirmed by air mass trajectories. Based on the presence of non-sea K (nsK), non-sea sulphates (nss), and Ca (the soil factor of burned areas), the continuous influence of wildfires on rainfall chemistry was also found. Moreover, dust storms in Eurasia were mainly responsible for the transport of Zn, Pb, and Cd to Svalbard. Global warming may lead to the increased deposition of mixed-origin pollutants in the summer season in the Arctic. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Quality Studies: Assessing the Presence of Nutrients and Pollutants)
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