Determination of Snowmelt Water Quality in Outdoor Green Areas: a Case Study at Van Province (Turkey)

Abstract

Freshwater resources are used for many purposes such as drinking, tap water, industrial usage and agricultural irrigation. Although unpolluted surface waters and groundwater are preferred for the irrigation of landscape plants in parks and gardens, snowmelt water is generally ignored. Like other precipitation types, snow can absorb solid and liquid substances in the atmosphere and it can rain on the earth with its natural chemical structure changed. Also, this water from snowmelt which includes different chemicals can enter surface waters and groundwater resources. In this study, the snowmelt water quality in outdoor green areas of the Van Province was examined. Some physico-chemical features (pH, conductivity, salinity, Ca, Mg, total hardness, Cl, NO3-N, NO2-N, SO4, and PO4) of the snow samples were taken at monthly intervals from six sampling stations between the dates of December 2019 - February 2020. Also, metal ion concentrations (Cd, Pb, As, Cu, Cr, Co, Ni, Zn, Fe, Mn, B, Se, Ba, Al, Na, Be, V, Mo, Si, K, Sr, Ag, Sb, Tl) and the values of SAR (Sodium Adsorption Ratio) and Na% in some sampling stations, which have intense industrial and settlements located in the area, were determined to evaluate the water quality level of the snowmelt water. While, it was observed that some parameters values exceeded the first quality level when compared with the quality levels of the surface water resources control regulation of Turkey and the rates in irrigation water quality values, a general evaluation of the results showed that snowmelt can be alternative irrigation water for plants. Also, the species of the landscape plants in the studied area were identified and the possible effects of the parameters on the development of the plants were discussed.