Impact of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) farm effluents on water physico-chemical parameters of Ryjab River (Kermanshah province)

The impact of rainbow trout farm effluents on water physico-chemical parameters of Ryjab River was investigated. Five stations were considered at different parts of the river. Station 1 located at the headwaters of the river, station 2 after nearly 30 percent of fish farms, station 3 after 60 percent of fish farms, station 4 after the last fish farm and station 5 located one kilometer after the last fish farm. Water physico-chemical parameters including temperature, oxygen, pH, carbon dioxide, electrical conductivity, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, total dissolved solids, biological oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand were measured every 15 days at different stations from March to February, 2012. The results showed that there was no difference between the study stations in terms of nitrate rate (P>0.05). The fish farm effluent had significant impact on Ryjab water parameters including pH, CO2, oxygen, alkalinity, the total hardness, the electrical conductivity, ammonia, phosphate, TDS, BOD5 and COD (P<0.05). There was no difference in most parameters measured at station five compared to station four (P> 0.05). In conclusion, the effluents of rainbow trout farms have caused the pollution of the Ryjab River and the water physico-chemical parameters have changed.