This document summarizes a study on assessing water quality in the Alento and Foro Rivers based on macroinvertebrate fauna. Students sampled two sites on each river and identified macroinvertebrate groups to determine a biotic index score for each site. On the Alento River, the periurban site received a score of 6-7 (yellow class) while the mountain site was 10-11 (blue class). On the Foro River, the periurban site scored 4-5 (orange class) and mountain site was 10-11 (blue class). Various causes of water pollution were identified for each area, including civil, industrial and agricultural activities, and suggestions were provided for solutions to reduce pollution.

1. Water
around us

2. The investigated area: the periurban area of the Alento
river; the mountain area of Foro river
Water Quality Assessment
Based on the “Alento” and “Foro”
Rivers Macroinvertebrate Fauna

3. The aim of the current study was an
assessment of the ecological status of the rivers
Alento and Foro based on macroinvertebrate
fauna:
BIOLOGICAL
MONITORING
Aim of the study

4. Macroinvertebrates as Bio-Indicators of Water Quality
BIOLOGICAL MONITORING

5. Students of Torrevecchia T. and
Ripa T.have analysed 2 different
sample sites of:
 “Alento”river periurban area
 “Foro” river mountain area
BIOLOGICAL
MONITORING

7. Camping sites

8. Quality assessment of
river Alento water

9. DIAGRAM FOR THE RECOGNITION OF THE
MAIN MACROINVERTEBRATE GROUPS

10. STUDENTS DEFINE THE
STRUCTURE OF
BENTHIC
MICROINVERTEBRATE
GROUPS
BIOLOGICAL MONITORING

11. RECOGNITION OF THE MAIN
MACROINVERTEBRATE GROUPS

12. STUDENTS COUNT
THE TAXONOMIC
LEVEL FOR EACH
MACROINVERTEBRA
TE GROUP TO
ASSIGN WATER THE
QUALITY CLASS
The chart shows increasing sensitivity
to pollutants of macroinvertebrati
groups (from left to right)
WHAT IS IT?
It’s the classification of the presence-absence
data for the fauna in the sampled sites
EVALUATION OF THE BIOLOGICAL
QUALITY OF WATER

13. Torrevecchia: sample site 1
• Caddis (1)
• Maufly (3)
• Diptera (2)
• Stonefilies (0)
• Hirudineas (0)
• Mollusks (0)
• Oligocheti (1)
Ripa T.: sample site 2
• Caddis (1)
• Maufly (2)
• Diptera (1)
• Stonefilies (0)
• Hirudineas (1)
• Mollusks (1)
• Oligocheti (1)
Classification of the
presence-absence fauna
data in the sampling sites
Macroinvertebrate community

14. Classification of the presence-absence data for the fauna
in the sampled sites :
 Diptera (5)
 Mollusks (0)
 Coleotteri (3)
 Crustaceans(1)
 Maufly (6)
 Caddis (3)
 Oligocheti (0)
 Stoneflies (3)
 Hirudineas (0)
S.U.= 21
EVALUATION OF THE BIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF
WATER IN MOUNTAIN AREAS OF FORO RIVER

15. How to calculate the value of EBI
Students use a calculation table with two columns: a
horizontal one determined by the quality of the
organisms and a vertical one determined by the total
number of systematic units present in the sample site.
APPLICATION OF THE EXTENDED BIOTIC INDEX
(EBI) AS ECOLOGICAL INDICATOR

16. QUALITY CLASSES
The value of biotic index is transformed in quality
classes.
According to the scale of the EBI values 5 quality
classes are identified:
Elevated, good, sufficient, bad and very bad.
A reference color is assigned to each class

17. Classes identified according to
the scale of the EBI value
TORREVECCHIA TEATINA
 Alento river periurban area: yellow
(evaluation: 6-7).
 Foro river mountain area: blue (evaluation: 10-
11).
RIPA TEATINA
 Alento river periurban area: orange (evaluation:
4-5).
 Foro river mountain area: blue (evaluation: 10-11).

18. Map of the
investigated area

19. STUDY AREA
THE PERIURBAN AREAS OF THE ALENTO
RIVER

20. TYPES OF WATER POLLUTION
identified in the investigated area:
 Civil
 Industrial
 Agricultural

21. • abusive discharges: different
substances from industrial
production go directly into the
river without any treatment
of purification, consuming
oxygen in the river or
penetrating into the soil and
contaminating groundwater.
CAUSES OF WATER POLLUTION
• houses very
close to the river
in the urban and industrial environment
analysed:

22.  industrial activities
discharges are very
harmful for the
river.
• dangerous
substances for
the sewer such
as cooking fats,
oils that go
down the sink.

23. • Hydromorphological
alteration:
• artificial
embankment(cement)
that disrupt natural
hydromorphological
processes

24. CAUSES OF WATER
POLLUTION
in the agricultural area
use of fertilizers and pesticides
Farming operations can contribute to pollution when not
properly managed.

25. Excess nutrients can
impact water quality
when it rains or
when water and soil
containing nitrogen
and phosphorus
wash into nearby
waters or leach into
ground waters
Fertilizers and animal manure, which
are both rich in nitrogen and
phosphorus, are the primary sources
of pollution from agricultural sources.

26. SUGGESTIONS….
FOR SOLUTIONS
Good
to
know!
• Don’t build houses in
areas flanking the river
and coast
• Choose phosphate-free
detergents, soaps and
household cleaners.
• Learn to read tags

27. • Use a
commercial car
wash when
washing your
car: commercial
car washes are
required to
properly dispose
of wastewater
and many filter
and recycle their
water.
Consider the following actions if washing your car at
home :
 Wash your car on a pervious surface such as
grass so water is filtered before reaching a
water body.
 Use nontoxic, phosphate-free soaps.

28. •Don’t throw food waste, cooking fats and oils down
the sink
•Don’t throw bags nappies, wet wipes and cotton
buds. Only pee, poo and toilet paper go down the
loo. Disposing of these items appropriately can also
reduce blockages in your sink and drains.
•The local sewerage company is responsible for the
public sewerage system, and should make sure it is
cleaned

29. Nutrient management:
use fertilizers
• in the proper amount
• at the right time of year
with the right method!
It can significantly reduce
pollution.
• Keep animals and
their waste out of
streams, rivers and
lakes!
It keeps nitrogen and
phosphorus out of the
water and restores
stream banks.
Managing livestock waste:

30. BUT…..
be the first …..
TO BEHAVE
CORRECTLY !!!!