T. Legovic et al., TOWARDS OPTIMUM MANAGEMENT OF TOTAL SUSPENDED-SOLIDS IN A COASTAL SEA- THE CASE OF IZMIT BAY, MARMARA SEA, Croatica chemica acta, 70(1), 1997, pp. 373-388
The distribution and transport of total suspended solids (TSS) is cons
idered in order to propose the strategy which, when implemented, would
lead to compliance with the water quality criterion. Currently, most
of the water in Izmit bay has a TSS concentration in excess of the leg
al maximum of 30 mg/L TSS. Modelling and simulation shows that the maj
ority of the TSS does not originate from the known land based sources
but probably represents phytoplankton. Since excessive quantities of N
and P are discharged into the bay, sometimes the growth of phytoplank
ton is limited by the natural silicate content of the water. However,
it is found that most of the phosphorus discharged from land based sou
rces is in fact utilized by the phytoplankton. Hence, reduction of the
TSS concentration to the legal limit can be achieved by decreasing ph
osphorus sources. If the majority of total organic carbon emanating fr
om land based sources were removed, this would imply a considerable de
crease in phosphorus inflow. It is suggested that waste waters from re
sidential communities and the remaining industry should be treated and
released to the layer below the halocline using one outfall in the ea
stern part and one or several outfalls in the central part of the bay.