Neris water quality best in Antavilių, Turniškės and Vilnelės streams

Water management company Vilniaus vandenys has published the results of its latest study on the water quality of the Neris River and its tributaries, reporting the best indicators in the Antavilių, Turniškės and Vilnelės streams, LRT reports.

Minor deviations were detected in an unnamed stream near Naujaneriai and at the Upelė intake, where higher concentrations of nitrates and nitrites, as well as a slight increase in organic pollution, were recorded.

Brigita Gudonė, director of the Quality and Innovation Service at Vilniaus vandenys, noted that while the latest research did not reveal significant pollution, the areas with deviations will be monitored more closely. Such changes in indicators are often linked to human activity or untreated surface runoff, which can enter smaller tributaries after heavy rains. Even small unnamed streams can carry organic pollution, petroleum products, or micro-pollutants into the Neris, potentially affecting ecological conditions, algae growth, and overall water quality stability over time.

The seasonal monitoring of the Neris and its tributaries covers twelve tributaries in the Vilnius district and city territory, as well as two monitoring points on the Neris River itself. The studies assess organic pollution, nitrogen and phosphorus compound concentrations, possible domestic or surface pollution indicators, and long-term water quality trends.

This year, as in previous years, the main surface water quality indicators examined included total nitrogen content (ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, and nitrite nitrogen), total phosphorus and phosphate concentrations, and biochemical and chemical oxygen demand.