Preliminary data on water quality using benthic macroinvertebrates as quality indicators: a case study in the Drin River Basin, Albania

Abstract Compliance with the Water Framework Directive has not yet been met by Albania, and further efforts are needed to achieve this goal, including the implementation of an extensive programme of monitoring of surface and groundwater bodies. Benthic macroinvertebrates are an integrated element of this monitoring programme whose results are being used to assess the achievement of the Water Framework Directive objectives. This study has been carried out strictly following protocols and methodologies of the Water Framework Directive. The biological assessment took place in 2017 at 11 monitoring stations along the Drin River in Albania. Sampled specimens have been used to assess the water quality along the Drin River Basin through a set of indices’ calculations per each group of indicators. A total of 41 benthic invertebrate taxa were used to calculate the biotic indices, finding out only 3 monitoring stations with a good status of water out of 11 monitoring stations assessed in our study; water quality in 8 monitoring stations is classified as a moderate or poor status. Statistical analysis has been carried out to identify the trend of benthic invertebrates from one sampling point to another and the factors influencing the similarity between monitoring stations and benthic invertebrate families.