Research Information System
General Assambly of the European Geosciences Union 2007, Austria, 1 - 04 April 2007, vol.9, (Full Text)
Land-based pollution generated mainly by industrial and domestic pollution in Izmit
Bay, a semi-enclosed bay located to the Eastern part of the Marmara Sea (an inland
sea) has been an environmental management concern since the 1970’s due to heavy
industrialization and population increase on the coastal zone and hinterland of the
Bay. A field study comprising industrial inventory and marine water quality has been
carried out. The objective was to determine the total water demand of the industrial
premises located in the industrial areas of Gebze, Dilovası and Çayı rova, to estimate
the water demand variations and sources of utilization (municipal network, groundwater
or tanker) in accordance with the capacity utilization rate changes of the industries
and to identify the potential of environmental stress generated by these activities both
on fresh water resources and the marine environment.
During the field study, after having obtained the required authorization by the institutions
concerned, pre-scheduled appointments were made with the nominated staff by
the companies and face to face interviews were carried out with a structured questionnaire.
Out of 686, 229 representative companies were sampled. In addition, fifty large
companies were analyzed separately within the sample of 98 which are determined
as “large-size” companies by the industrial chamber of commerce of the corresponding
province “Kocaeli”. All the data collected were statistically analyzed by using the
“Quantum” computer program and the detailed statistical output results were obtained.
The total water consumption of these 50 companies was computed and the related industrial
categorization according to the “Water Pollution Control Regulations” of the
“Environment Act” was made.
The operational practices of the existing wastewater treatment plants run by the industries,
the pollution potential in the Dilderesi Creek and the shoreline of the study
area were assessed at six representative stations. The analyses were carried out with
a HACH DR-2400 spectrophotometer and also at the laboratory of the Institute of
Marine Sciences and Management.
The findings of the field survey at the industries and analyses of the samples have
proven that the study area is subject to a severe environmental stress both with regard
to fresh water resources and also with regard to the pollution of the receiving media.
Overexploitation of the freshwater resources and the pollution of the marine environment
mainly by industrial discharges are the two most important problems in the study
area.
Present and previous studies recommend that an integrated environmental study covering
the identification of industrial pollution at source should be initiated on a basis
of regular monitoring. This approach will help to start a comprehensive industrial pollution
abatement program on a voluntary agreement basis by the industrial premises;
associated with other stakeholders and supported by central and local authorities concerned.