Elvin Çomo, Albana Hasimi, Edlira Tako, Bledar Murtaj, Aurel Nuro

Characteristics of the spatial distribution of pollutants in the Shkumbin River, using the Inverse Distance Weighting Method

Introduction

Characteristics of the spatial distribution of pollutants in the shkumbin river, using the inverse distance weighting method. Study pollutant spatial distribution in Shkumbin River (Albania) using Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) and ArcGIS. Analyzes organic pollutants & heavy metals in its lower reaches.

Abstract

The Shkumbin River is one of the largest in the country, with a length of 181 km, a catchment area of 2444 km2, and an average height of its sources of 753 m. For the specificity of the Shkumbin River and the importance of the use of its waters, it is necessary to continuously study the level of water quality and the level of pollution, especially in its lower reaches, where agricultural and urban activities are concentrated and industrial. The study was carried out in the period 2021–2022, in the Shkumbin River watershed, and eight stations were selected as representative points of the main stream of the Shkumbin River. In the context of industrial and urban development, the preservation of the natural environment takes on special importance. The solution to this problem requires the hydrochemical study of water sources, which is necessary for the control of their condition, and the study of compounds and polluting phenomena. In order to study the distribution of organic pollutants and heavy metals and obtain pollutant distribution pictures using the ArcGIS system, the Inverse Distance Weighting Method was used.

Review

This study tackles a highly pertinent environmental issue concerning the water quality of the Shkumbin River, a major hydrological feature in the region. The authors effectively establish the critical need for continuous monitoring, particularly in the river's lower reaches, which are subject to considerable anthropogenic pressures from agricultural, urban, and industrial activities. By focusing on pollutant distribution, the research aims to provide essential insights into the river's environmental health, laying a foundation for informed water management and conservation efforts. Methodologically, the paper proposes the use of the Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) method within an ArcGIS system to map the spatial distribution of organic pollutants and heavy metals. This geostatistical approach is a suitable choice for interpolating point-based sampling data, allowing for the creation of visual, continuous pollutant distribution pictures, which can greatly enhance understanding of contamination patterns. The study period of 2021–2022 and the selection of eight representative stations along the main stream indicate a defined scope for data collection. However, the abstract would benefit from specifying the particular organic pollutants and heavy metals analyzed, as well as the exact parameters measured at these stations, to provide a more comprehensive overview of the analytical approach. The application of spatial analysis tools to visualize pollutant distributions is a significant strength, offering valuable insights that are often obscured in purely tabular data. Such visual representations are invaluable for identifying pollution hotspots, understanding their geographical spread, and subsequently guiding targeted mitigation strategies for environmental managers and policymakers. While the abstract effectively outlines the study's context and proposed methodology, a full paper would need to thoroughly present the actual pollutant levels detected, compare them against relevant water quality standards, and provide a detailed interpretation of the observed spatial patterns, linking them to potential pollution sources. This crucial work has the potential to significantly contribute to the sustainable management of the Shkumbin River.

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