Integrated geospatial assessment and geovisualization of water and sediment quality in an artificial lake. Insights from Sferk, Klina, Kosovo

This study investigates the analysis of heavy metal content, as well as the physical and chemical properties of water and sediment in the artificial lake situated in Sferk, Klina, Kosovo. Sampling and analysis were conducted during the autumn of 2023. The inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) technique was employed to measure the levels of heavy metals. The contamination factors (CF) were calculated to evaluate the degree of heavy metal pollution. At the same time, the spatial interpolation technique (spatial resolution 1 m) in QGIS software was developed to spatially represent the distribution of heavy metals and other parameters across the study area. The results for water and sediment samples were compared with the WHO and EPA standards. The findings indicate significant variations in heavy metal concentrations, highlighting potential sources of contamination. CF calculations offer insights into pollution levels, assisting in identifying priority areas for remediation efforts, particularly in water samples. The comprehensive assessment provides valuable insights into the status of water and sediment quality in the artificial lake of Sferk, contributing to the under-standing and management of environmental pollution and its impacts.