Assessment of the quality characteristics of Pinios River, Greece

The results of a one-year detailed water quality study of the Pinios river are presented. Physicochemical parameters (pH, conductivity, DO) did not show significant differences neither between sampling sites, nor between sampling periods. Nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus compounds) showed temporal variations probably caused by seasonal variations in runoff nutrient from weather events. Heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni) were determined in the dissolved fraction and the variations observed were related to the geology of the examined area and the influence from anthropogenic sources. Statistical analysis of variance of the most important chemical parameters and heavy metals showed significant variation between sampling periods, but insignificant ones between sampling sites.