Anthropogenic Sources and their Environmental Impact to Surface Waters

Abstract

Influence of the human beings to the nature initially was inexistent, but it increased continuously until the industrial revolution time where the presence of humans shaped the face of the planet. The progress in science and technology was accompanied by the man’s preferences to live a healthy live which brought to the establishing of modern urban areas that directly influenced the environment. In many cases the impact on water, air and soil compartments has resulted irreversible. In Kosovo, only 8 % of the freshwaters is used as potable water, while the remaining is used in agriculture and industry activities. Effluents produced by these economical sectors are discharged, with no previous treatment processes, by dumping the pollutants to the surface waters. The object of the study was the evaluation of pollution with origin from the heavy industry effluents and evidencing of the hot spots to the Kosovo’ freshwaters. It gives suggestions to diminish the environmental impact of effluent discharges and further improvements of actual situation.