In this paper, the water quality of the Moraca River and its main
tributaries (the Zeta and the Cijevna) were analyzed, using the Water
Quality Index (WQI) methods. Data from 12 hydrological stations (HS) from
2010 to 2018 were used. The analysis included ten parameters of physic,
chemical and microbiological water quality: oxygen saturation, BOD5,
ammonium ion, pH value, total nitrogen oxides, orthophosphates, suspended
solids, temperature, electrical conductivity and coliform bacteria.
Calculations for all 12 HS were made using the Serbian Water Quality Index
(SWQI). The results of the research showed that the general situation is not
discouraging, because the SWQI values ranged from 73-97, which according to
the categorization of water quality corresponds to the classes good, very
good and excellent. The only exceptions were the two measuring stations in
the lower course of the Moraca River (City Collector and Grbaci). During the
entire observed period, the water quality was the worst on the profile of
the City Collector (SWQI between 39 and 71) on Moraca River. Also,
downstream on Moraca River, on HS Grbavci for 2015, the average annual value
of SWQI was 70, which according to the gradation corresponds to the class of
poor quality. The biggest sources of pollution were municipal wastewaters,
followed by agricultural activities and illegal garbage disposal both along
the stream and in the river itself. It follows that the lower part of the
Moraca River was the most polluted in the observed basin. This is a serious
problem, especially since it is a part of the Moraca River that flows
through the most populated and most agriculturally active parts of
Montenegro (Podgorica, Zeta Plain, Ljeskopolje). Therefore, it is necessary
to take adequate measures as soon as possible, which primarily relate to the
introduction of wastewater treatment technology and to educate population
about the importance of river water conservation.
