Helsingin Longinojan vedenlaatu ja vedenlaadun alueellinen vaihtelu

Longinoja brook is one of the biggest brooks in Helsinki by catchment area and it is one of the most important spawning areas of brown trout (Salmo trutta) of River Vantaanjoki. The brook and its catchment have undergone significant changes in the process of industrialization and urbanization ever since the 19th century. In the 21st century Longinoja has been restored in order to improve habitats and spawning areas of bown trout, to prevent erosion and to increase the recreational and aesthetic value of the brook. The aim of the thesis was to study the changes in Longinoja's water quality in time and space, the loadings of its side ditches and the effect of land use on areal differences in water quality. The thesis was a part of a survey made by the City of Helsinki Environment Center. The water quality of Longinoja was monitored with an automatic probe 19.4.–6.10.2010 and 4.4.2011–10.1.2012, during which time water samples were collected in every 1–2 weeks. In addition water samples were collected four times a year from different parts of the catchment, in winter, spring, summer and fall in 2010 and 2011. Water quality and loadings of the side ditches and the effect of land use on areal differences in water quality were examined on the basis of water samples collected from the side ditches. Samples were collected four times during growth season in 2011 on rainy days. Intense changes in water quality during snowmelt and especially heavy rains are characteristic of Longinoja. Also hygienic water quality alters greatly. On the basis of median concentrations, the water quality was similar in 2010–2011 than in 2004. Only the concentrations of suspended solids and total phosphorus were clearly higher in 2010–2011 than in 2004. Concentration of phosphate was quite low in comparison with mean concentration of brooks in Helsinki. Compared with Finnish headwaters the conductivity and concentrations of nitrate, iron, copper, zinc and nickel are quite high in Longinoja as they are in other brooks in Helsinki. The loading of suspended solids in spring months is about 8 times greater in comparison with fall months and about 11 times greater in comparison with summer months. The loading of phosphorus in spring months is about 7 times greater compared with fall months and about 9 times greater compared with summer months. Estimated load of suspended solids in Longinoja in year 2011 was 17 100–17 900 kg/km²/y and load of phosphorus 32–34 kg/km²/y. Few relationships between water quality and land use were found because of small dataset. Only low density residential areas could be seen to increase concentration of suspended solids. The Helsinki-Malmi Airport seems to increase loading of nitrogen (TN, NO₃-N, NH₄-N) and nickel and the industrial area in Tattarisuo seems to cause loading of some oxygen consuming contaminants. Based on the results future restoration measures should be focused in the catchments of Longinoja's side ditches Suurmetsänoja, Teerikukonoja and Lentokentänoja. With increasing runoff loading of suspended solids and phosphorus from Suurmetsänoja, phosphate, zinc and copper from Teerikukonoja and suspended solids, nickel and nitrogen from Lentokentänoja is significant.