Dissolved organic carbon and UV-absorption in a polluted lowland brook-pond system

A natural water (brook-pond system), polluted with organic waste, was aerated by the Phallus technique. The evolution of the organic carbon concentration and the UV-absorption was followed. Aeration resulted in an abrupt decrease of the organic carbon concentration in the immediate vicinity of the experimental station, while in the downstream sampling sites a slower decrease occurred. A relationship between UV-absorption and total organic carbon was demonstrated. The use of UV-absorption measurements as a measure of organic matter content is discussed.