Rapid regional recovery from sulfate and nitrate pollution in streams of the western Czech Republic – comparison to other recovering areas

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) 2005-05, Vol.135 (1), p.17-28
• Main Authors: Majer, Vladimír, Krám, Pavel, Shanley, James B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: acidification; Acidification recovery; Applied sciences; Chlorides - analysis; Continental surface waters; Czech Republic; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Europe; Exact sciences and technology; Freshwater; hydrochemistry; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Natural water pollution; Nitrate; nitrates; Nitrates - analysis; North America; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; Regional hydrochemistry; Rivers; Stream survey; streams; Sulfate; sulfates; Sulfates - analysis; Time Factors; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; water pollution; Water treatment and pollution
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2004.10.009

Hydrochemical changes between 1991 and 2001 were assessed based on two synoptic stream surveys from the 820-km 2 region of the Slavkov Forest and surrounding area, western Czech Republic. Marked declines of sulfate, nitrate, chloride, calcium and magnesium in surface waters were compared with other areas of Europe and North America recovering from acidification. Declines of sulfate concentration in the Slavkov Forest (−30 μeq L −1 yr −1) were more dramatic than declines reported from other sites. However, these dramatic declines of strong acid anions did not generate a widespread increase of stream water pH in the Slavkov Forest. Only the most acidic streams experienced a slight increase of pH by 0.5 unit. An unexpected decline of stream water pH occurred in slightly alkaline streams. Acidified streams experienced unprecedented recovery from sulfate and nitrate pollution but pH and ANC decreased in alkaline streams.