Suspended matter as water contaminant

Problem of suspension in a catchment is usually analyzed in a quantitative context of the amount and concentration of material transported in a suspended form. The fluvial transport research studies are performed in catchments of different sizes and provide a diagnosis of particular material supply sources is an analysis of soil erosion rate, in relation to the different ways of catchment use and management. The quality of the particulate material has an essential impact on hydrological and geomorphological conditions in aquatic environment, its biological functioning, and also contributes to changes in the quality and quantity of habitat of fish, macro-invertebrates and macrophytes. The excessive loads of the suspension contribute to environmental degradation by increasing water turbidity and deposition at the bottom of reservoirs. Therefore, in the context of environmental change it seems to be important, not only to estimate the suspended matter loads, but also expand the research by the qualitative analysis of this material. Also, identifying the sources of its origin is necessary for the proper construction of the catchment management programs. This paper shows possibilities of using geochemical markers (sediment fingerprinting) as suitable method for determining sources of the suspension in the catchment.
Long-term observations of suspended matter may lead to a satisfactory description of the current lake contamination and, what is even more important, may support analysis and predictions concerning the future fate of the reservoir in respect to water quality.