BACTERIOPLANKTON CHARACTERISTICS AND WATER CHEMISTRY IN TWO MAJOR TRIBUTARIES OF DRINKING WATER SOURCE

Rasina and Blatasnica, two major tributaries of drinking water source, reservoir Celije, were sampled during one year investigation. The parameters that were determined were as follows: water temperature, KMnO4 consumption, concentrations of nutrients (total phosphorus, orthophosphates, ammonia nitrogen, nitrites, nitrates), and total bacterial count. Also, the morphotype diversity of bacterioplankton was investigated. Based on these parameters, Blatasnica had significantly poorer water quality than Rasina, primarily due to increased levels of total phosphorus, orthophosphates, ammonia nitrogen, and total bacteria. Also, Rasina had a worse quality of water after the inflow of Blatasnica than more upstream. The dominant bacteria morphotype at all sites were rods, followed by cocci and curved forms. Abundance of the rods was positively correlated with water turbidity, KMnO4 consumption and concentration of ammonia nitrogen. Abundance of cocci was also correlated with these parameters, including total phosphorus, orthophosphates and nitrites, but negatively. Curved bacteria were the only bacterial type showed positive correlation with water temperature.