Freshwater quality in urban areas: a case study from Rome, Italy

Abstract Water quality in streams running in urban areas can be strongly altered by the impact of human activities. Different kinds of water quality degradation were investigated in the streams running in the ‘Appia Antica’ Regional Park, placed in the southern suburbs of Rome. Water quality was assessed in 21 sampling points located in eight streams by the analysis of chemical [chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrates, ammonia, total phosphorus], biological (IBE index), microbial (total coliforms, faecal coliforms, Escherichia coli , faecal streptococci, sulphite-reducing clostridia) ecosystemic (IFF index), and hydrological (flow) parameters. On the whole the results indicate an in depth degradation of water quality. However, IBE and IFF showed local condition of water stress that were not individuated by chemical parameters. A multidisciplinary approach is necessary to highlight the different pressures on water quality of urban freshwaters. The presence of buffer zones in urban green areas does not avoid the impact arising from the surrounding urban area.