Pollutants Hazard Potential and Environmental Vulnerability of Qarah Su River

The main purpose of the study is determination of the pollutants hazard potential as well as environmental vulnerability of Qarah Su River. First the most significant pollutant sources in the Qarah Su river watershed were identified and then accordingly the pollution hazard potential rate was calculated in Universal Ranking System Model setting. Then, by generalizing the algebraic sum of the results with the surface area of 49 polygons in the zone, the intensity of environmental vulnerability degree was determined in relation to other pollutant and the sum of pollutant sources. The results reveals that the most important pollutant sources in the Qarah Su river watershed are agricultural activities, municipal-domestic wastewater from cities, industry, aquaculture, and natural resources. The final models demonstrated that the hazard potential of total pollutant sources in the central region overlooking Ardabil northern part and along the south-north of Baliqly Chai is too high.