The work considers the effect of the ozonization process on the change of contents of natural organic matter (NOM) and formation of byproducts in the groundwater pretreated by preozonation (2.0 g O3/cubic m) and coagulation with polyaluminium-chlorosulfate (5 and 10 g Al/cubuc m). Experiments were carried out on a semi-industrial plant of capacity of 2 cubic m/h, using groundwater with a high content of NOM (5.1 mg/l TOC). It was found that in the course of ozonization NOM content shows a decrease (18-64%), as well as the potential of formation of trihalomethanes, PFTHM (12-59%), whereas content of aldehydes increases by 3.0-7.7 microgram/l, depending on the water pretreatment and applied ozone dose. It was found correlation between specific aldehyde content and decrease of the specific PFTHM (r=0.815-0.998).

New type of ozone generator based on barrier discharge was applied for removal of phenol from water under laboratory conditions. Three water samples with initial concentration of phenol of 6.0 mg/L were studied. In the experiment with distilled water containing phenol, 98.9% of phenol was removed (93.3% during the ozonization). Under similar conditions two different water samples from river Danube were used. In these cases, 76.7% and 80.0% of phenol were removed, respectively. In all experiments, water samples containing phenol passed only once through the ozonizer. It is reasonable to assume that better purification could be obtained with several passes of water through ozonizer and/or by optimization of the process (adjusting concentration of ozone, ozonization time, water flow, etc.).

The diffusion of erosive processes in Serbia and frequency of torrential floods are the factors of degradation of environment. Communities in Serbia are obliged to make Plans for announcement of erosive regions and for protection by torrential floods on water courses out of regular system of defense. An example of Belgrade is presented in this paper, where the Plans for announcement of erosive regions and defense by torrential floods were carried out. These documents are the basis for water protection and usage of natural resources on the concept of sustainability.

A new concept for the determination of reference low flows of natural watercourses - the guaranteed minimum - has recently been introduced into the water management practice. Appreciating the significance underlying the definition of low flows in all segments of water management (municipal and industrial water supply, wastewater discharge, irrigation, navigation, hydropower, water protection, etc.), the author believes that all aspects of the problem must duly be considered, examined and identified. The doubts and issues raised by the guaranteed minimum concept in the domain of random-probabilistic phenomena, such as river discharge, are discussed in the paper.

The paper contains description of potential approaches to better defining of distribution curves parameters for low water levels on water courses that sporadically dry up, also including additional information on the length of dry period. Computed results are given for the example of minimum annual discharge on several rivers in the Velika Morava basin, Serbia (Serbia and Montenegro).

Wastewater from the Novi Sad Oil Refinery, Serbia (Serbia and Montenegro) had been previously discharged to the Danube river between the raw water wells. In order to protect water supply source, the collector discharge was displaced downstream, outside the raw water wells area. In 2004, the quality of Danube river water and sediment was monitored at the sites of the old and new collector discharge of the Oil Refinery wastewaters, as well as at two control (reference) sites. The paper presents chemical quality parameters of water and sediment, characterizing oil contamination. Significantly increased contents of oil contaminant were measured in the Danube river sediment at the old discharge site compared to other sampling points, which is a consequence of many-year accumulation, as well as in the Danube river water at the new discharge site, as a consequence of the present wastewater discharge.

During the 2004 research of Moraca river water quality was conducted onto six localities: Pernica, Zlatica, Gradska plaza, Kolektor, Grbavci and Vukovci. Physical, chemical and microbiological properties were analyzed. Physical and chemical analyses done were: water temperature, air temperature, pH, electro-conductivity, KMnO4 consumption, dissolved O2 and BCO5 (biological consumption of oxygen in five days). Microbiological analysis included determination of the total number of aerobic mezophyll bacteria, oligotrophic and heterotrophic bacteria, as well as the most probable number of colliform bacteria. In addition to distribution and population dynamics, identification of the bacteria was also done. Microbiological water analysis were performed using standard bacteriologic methods and identification of the bacteria using INVIC or, when needed, using API diagnostics.

During 2004 the referent monitoring of chemical quality of surface water and sediments in some protected areas in Vojvodina was conducted as a supplement to the regular monitoring program in Vojvodina. The aim of the study was to establish the chemical quality of surface water and sediments. It is concluded that the water quality satisfies the criteria of class 1/2 according to national legislation. With regard to contamination of sediments with organic micropollutants the sediment of Lake Ludos may be considered as potentially problematic because the Canadian empiric effect guideline value as well as sediment quality reference values according to Dutch legislation were exceeded for DDT and its derivatives.

In this paper we have presented the results of the investigation of phytoplankton carried out in the Hydrosystem DTD (Danube - Tisza - Danube) in Banat region from April 2003 till November 2004. Accordingly, halophilic algae community of eutrophic type has been described. Seasonal distribution and presence of algae taxa in the investigated water varied significantly. The diatoms were mostly represented by periphytic forms in the huge quantities, which was particularly the case with an avalanche of the eutrophic species such as: Bacillaria paradoxa, Anomoeoneis sphaerophora, Nitzschia acicularis, N. palea, Navicula cryptocephala, Fragilaria ulna, Melosira varians, Surirella ovalis, etc. The significant number of Cyclotella meneghiniana during summer and Euglenophyta in autumn revealed high trophic status in some sections of HS DTD.

The research of phytoplankton in water of Hydrosystem DTD in Banat region (canal complex and the rivers Zlatica, Old Begej) has been carried out seasonally i.e. in the spring, summer, autumn and winter of 2003 and 2004. According to guidance of Anon (2003) we selected biological element - phytoplankton in establishing referral body of water with maximum ecological potential (MEP) of the Danube-Tisza-Danube Hydrosystem also classified as artificial/heavily modified water. Classification was made according to Sorensen indices of similarity. Reference conditions with MEP were assigned to the HS DTD, canal Banatska Palanka - Novi Becej, Novi Becej - Melenci stretch. As determined by phytoplankton analyses, investigated canals and rivers could be classified as waters of good ecological potential, except the rivers Zlatica, Stari Begej (Old Begej) and some sections of the Canal Plovni Begej (Navigable Begej) what was designated to moderate ecological potential.