Background and purpose: Nowadays, development of aquaculture is one of the reasons for river pollution. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of aquaculture effluent on physicochemical parameters of Kabkian River in 2011-12. Material and Methods: Sampling was conducted during three seasons in 2011-12 from 12 selected stations. Dissolved Oxygen, pH, TDS, EC and T parameters were measured on site and NO3-, NO2-, PO43-, NH4+, BOD5, and COD parameters were measured in laboratory. Results: Statistical analysis showed significant differences in mean concentration of NO2- and COD (P<0.05). The minimum and maximum mean concentrations of NO2- were found with 0.004 ± 0.001 and 0.049 ± 0.01 mg L-1, respectively for stations A, C, and H. Also the minimum and maximum mean concentrations of COD were found with 8.00 ± 1.20 and 27.67 ± 5.33 mg L-1, respectively for stations B and J. The analysis of qualitative parameters in different sampling periods showed significant differences in mean concentrations of studied parameters (P<0.05). Conclusion: According to this study and the WHO recommendation on concentrations of pollutants for drinking and agricultural water, self purification of Kabkian River is possible. However, increasing number of aquaculture farms and lack of monitoring of pollution sources could result in serious problems, especially eutrophication.

Keywords: Water quality evaluation, physicochemical parameter, aquaculture farm, Kabkian River

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