When planning the construction of a hydroelectric power plant, an important segment is adequate monitoring of water quality. With an appropriate monitoring program, the multifunctional use of artificial lakes is enabled. Eutrophication (nutrient over-enrichment) of water in a lake is a phenomenon that has been noticed in all lakes. The consequence of eutrophication is the endangerment of the aquatic ecosystem. Eutrophication is a phenomenon that occurs as a response of the aquatic ecosystem to the increased concentration of nutrients, phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N), due to natural and anthropogenic activities. Recent research indicates a correlation between local climate change and water circulation and the impact of climate change on all phenomena in the hydrological cycle. Temperature fluctuations, huge amounts of rain when precipitation is analysed, constant heating and increase in humidity all affect more intense eutrophication. The key conclusions of the research dealing with the construction of the hydroelectric power plant in Komarnica are: to introduce monitoring (permanent control) of water quality in lakes in order to minimize or control, even prevent eutrophication. Each artificial lake has its own unique characteristics. The dependence of chlorophyll, phosphorus and lake volume varies depending on the month, season and year. The proposal for the lake that will be built on Komarnica, which is part of the future hydroelectric power plant, is a monthly monitoring of the concentration of chlorophyll, nutrients and the volume of the lake. Seasonal monitoring depends on precipitation, hydrological and limnological characteristics and trends of dry and rainy episodes. Analyzes and previous research have shown that the introduction of mandatory parameters for monitoring water quality does not increase the cost of electricity production and energy conservation, but significantly improves and enhances the quality of the environment.
Impact evaluation of the Vila Viçosa small hydroelectric power plant (Portugal) on the water quality and on the dynamics of the benthic macroinvertebrate communities of the Ardena river
