Making Sense of Water Quality: Multispecies Encounters on the Mystic River

2013 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 150-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caterina Scaramelli

This paper takes water quality as an ethnographic subject. It looks at how water quality monitors in Boston make sense of the quality of water through mundane engagement with three non-human beings who they encounter during their monitoring activities: herring, bacteria and water lily. Each of these organisms suggests a different understanding of water quality for the monitors and poses a dilemma. Water quality monitors who contribute to the production of water quality data come to know water quality as through direct interactions with these beings, mediated by both sensorial experience and laboratory data. These experiences, at the same time, confuse and redraw relationships between science, water flows, non-human vitality, including that of invasive species, and people.

Author(s):  
Khalid Mahmood ◽  
Muhammad Asim

A comprehensive study for the spatial distribution of drinking water quality had been conductedfor residential area of Lahore, Pakistan. The study had made use of the geographic information system(GIS) for geographical representation and spatial analysis of groundwater quality. Physicochemicalparameters including electric conductivity, pH, TDS, Cl, Mg, Ca, alkalinity and bicarbonates from 73 ofthe water samples had been included in the analysis. Water quality data had been geo-referenced followedby its interpolation using inverse distance weighted (IDW) for each of the parameters. Very high alkalinityand bicarbonates values were observed in most parts of the area. For the comprehensive view, water qualityindex map had been prepared using weighted overlay analysis (WOA). The water quality index map wasclassified into five zones of excellent, good, poor, very poor and unfit for drinking as per WHO standardsof drinking water. 21% region had excellent quality of the underground water and 50% was found goodfor drinking. Poor quality of water was found in southeastern part, covering 27% of the study area. Only2% of the area was found under the very poor and unfit water quality conditions for drinking.


2018 ◽  
Vol 73 ◽  
pp. 04013
Author(s):  
Deddy Caesar Agusto ◽  
Eko Kusratmoko

The river is the main source of water in Indonesia, which at the moment, this quality tends to get worse and is no longer worth consuming for various needs. The cause of the pollution is the entry of pollutants both point source (industrial waste) and non-point source (residential and agricultural land). Rainfall can be a non-point source pollutant agent from a watershed to a water body. The impact of rainfall on increasing concentrations of pollutants is very significant, especially the high intensity rainfall that falls after the long dry season. In this study, water quality data is obtained from river outlets located in Damkamun taken every 30 minutes during the rainfall event so that fluctuation in water quality can be seen. Water quality indicators studied in this research are TDS, DHLNitrate, Phosphate and Ph. The author, in analyzing, using rainfall Himawari 8 which is obtained every 10 minutes. The result shows that rainfall is directly related to the water flow and the fluctuation of the discharge affects the water quality. From the calculations, the chemical quality of water is also influenced by the use of land in the watershed. Nitrate value increases when the occurrence of rain occurs in land use while phosphate experiences a high value during the event.


1986 ◽  
Vol 18 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 43-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tetsuya Kusuda ◽  
Tohru Futawatari ◽  
Youichi Awaya ◽  
Kenichi Koga ◽  
Katsuhiro Furumoto

The objectives of this study were to clarify the defects of the current tidal river monitoring method and to propose a better method to obtain water quality data of high quality for tidal rivers. In Japan, the Water Quality Standards for rivers also apply to tidal rivers. The method indicates that water should be sampled from 20% of the water depth below the water surface at an arbitrary time once a month. Since this method was apparently inappropriate to understand the dynamics and water profiles in tidal rivers, field surveys were conducted at different times in the River Rokkaku, which is well mixed. The results showed that the turbidity maximum moved up- and down-stream more than 10 km due to the tide. Based on this fact, a new monitoring method was proposed, which required water samples to be taken with a certain time lag from a high tide at a station. This newly proposed method improved the quality of information on water quality and made data available to ascertain long term trends. Modifications to the new method are suggested to further improve the quality of water quality data for tidal rivers.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Satmoko Yudo

Population growth in the Jakarta city that continues to rise each year, this has resulted in environmental pollution, especially pollution of the Ciliwung river continues to grow. Nowadays various attempts have been made in terms of prevention of pollution of the river Ciliwung. One of the efforts to control pollution in the river Ciliwung is monitoring the quality of water in rivers and creeks Ciliwung. This monitoring is done in real-time and online, where the water quality data sent to data centers and analyzed  into information that can be displayed at any time and anywhere through the Internet. If there are pollutants that enter the river so heavilly polluted in certain time, the government or the authorities that manages the river can take action to control pollution. To support online monitoring system running well required database management system (DBMS) for storing water quality data at any time and integrated well. Keywords : river pollution, water quality monitoring online, Ciliwung river, design database.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 9-13
Author(s):  
Casilda Saavedra

Leachate is a liquid generated by mixing of water with organic and inorganic material found in landfills. This liquid accumulates at the bottom of the landfill and has the potential to percolate through the soil to enter groundwater or other water bodies. Leachate contains various contaminants and toxins that can significantly diminish the quality of water it enters, which can become hazardous to humans and the environment. In this article, the water quality of two towns: Egg Harbor and Middle Township, New Jersey were analyzed and compared. Egg Harbor Township has a landfill located within the town, while the closest landfill to Middle Township is approximately 10 miles away. Water supply for both towns comes from the same aquifer, known as the Kirkwood-Cohansey water table system. The water quality results from community wells within Egg Harbor Township were compared to those of Middle Township. Water quality data for this study is from New Jersey American Water database. Based on the results, the water quality of Egg Harbor Township varies significantly from Middle Township. The levels of contaminants in Egg Harbor Township are much higher compared to Middle Township. Therefore, it can be concluded that communities near landfills, even well monitored and managed ones, are prone to have poorer water quality than those farther away from the landfill.


Author(s):  
T. E. Pronk ◽  
R. C. H. M. Hofman-Caris ◽  
D. Vries ◽  
S. A. E. Kools ◽  
T. L. ter Laak ◽  
...  

Abstract The European Water Framework Directive (WFD) states that measures should be taken to improve the quality of water bodies to prevent further required extension of current (drinking) water treatment. Hence, for water managers it is of key importance to evaluate and report on the quality of water and the level of purification treatment that is required. For this purpose a novel framework of indices is defined, and their definition allows the inclusion of new, emerging substances. The indices can be calculated based on micropollutant characteristics alone and do not require any knowledge of specific purification treatment installations. Applying this framework of indices to water bodies provides an objective and reproducible way of evaluating the required purification treatment level. The indices were calculated for water quality data for up to 600 micropollutants from five sampling locations along the river Rhine in the Netherlands. This revealed differences between the sampling sites (index values ranged from 145 to 273) and showed that for the river Rhine the required purification treatment level, as well as the underlying removal requirement and purification treatment effort, have not improved over the years, despite the introduction of the WFD in 2000.


Author(s):  
Colleta Tundu ◽  
Michael James Tumbare ◽  
Jean-Marie Kileshye Onema

Abstract. Sediment delivery into water sources and bodies results in the reduction of water quantity and quality, increasing costs of water purification whilst reducing the available water for various other uses. The paper gives an analysis of sedimentation in one of Zimbabwe's seven rivers, the Mazowe Catchment, and its impact on water quality. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model was used to compute soil lost from the catchment as a result of soil erosion. The model was used in conjunction with GIS remotely sensed data and limited ground observations. The estimated annual soil loss in the catchment indicates soil loss ranging from 0 to 65 t ha yr−1. Bathymetric survey at Chimhanda Dam showed that the capacity of the dam had reduced by 39 % as a result of sedimentation and the annual sediment deposition into Chimhanda Dam was estimated to be 330 t with a specific yield of 226 t km−2 yr−1. Relationship between selected water quality parameters, TSS, DO, NO3, pH, TDS, turbidity and sediment yield for selected water sampling points and Chimhanda Dam was analyzed. It was established that there is a strong positive relationship between the sediment yield and the water quality parameters. Sediment yield showed high positive correlation with turbidity (0.63) and TDS (0.64). Water quality data from Chimhanda treatment plant water works revealed that the quality of water is deteriorating as a result of increase in sediment accumulation in the dam. The study concluded that sedimentation can affect the water quality of water sources.


2003 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 722-743 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. P. Jarvie ◽  
C. Neal ◽  
P. J. A. Withers ◽  
A. Robinson ◽  
N. Salter

Abstract. Water quality data, collected by the Environment Agency in England and Wales over 10 years (1991 – 2000) were used to examine the spatial distribution of nutrient pollution risk and for assessing broad-scale spatial and temporal variability in nutrient fluxes across the Wye catchment. Nutrient water quality across the upper and middle Wye catchment, and along the main River Wye, is generally very good. However, the main areas of concern lie in the small tributaries in the south and east of the catchment, which have lower dilution capacity and high agricultural and effluent inputs, and where mean Total Reactive Phosphorus (TRP) in some cases exceed 1 mg-P l-1. Indeed, mass load calculations have demonstrated that the lowland south and east portion of the catchment contributes more than 85% of the whole-catchment TRP and more than 78% of nitrate (NO3‾) loads. Ratios of NO3‾:Ca were used to fingerprint different water-types across the catchment, linked to weathering and agricultural activity. The Wye catchment has been subject to two major sets of perturbations during the study period: (i) climatic fluctuations, with a drought during 1995-6, followed by a subsequent drought-break in 1997/8, and extreme high river flows in the autumn/winter of 2000/2001, and (ii) introduction of tertiary P-treatment at major sewage treatment works in the catchment. The implications of these perturbations for the nutrient water quality of the Wye catchment are discussed. Recommendations are made for more targeted monitoring to directly assess diffuse source nutrient contributions. Keywords: nutrients, phosphate, phosphorus, nitrate, nitrogen, river, Wye, PSYCHIC, Defra


2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 251
Author(s):  
Rita Yulianti ◽  
Emi Sukiyah ◽  
Nana Sulaksana

Daerah penelitian terletak di desa Muaro Limun, Kecamatan Limun Kabupaten Sarolangun Provinsi Jambi. Sungai limun, salah satu sungai besar di daerah kabupaten sarolangun yang dimanfaatkan oleh mayarakat sekitarnya sebagai sumber penghidupan. Penelitian bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh kegiatan penambangan terhadap kualitas air sungai Batang Limun, dan perubahan sifat fisik dan  kimia yang diakibatkan   kegiatan penambangan.Metode yang digunakan adalah  metode grab sampel, serta stream sedimen untuk dianalis di laboratorium. Sejumlah sampel diambil di beberapa lokasi Penambangan Emas berdasarkan Aliran Sub-DAS dan dibandingkan dengan beberapa sampel lain yang diambil pada lokasi yang belum terkontaminasi oleh kegiatan penambangan. Analisis kualitas air mengacu pada  SMEWWke 22 tahun 2012 dan standar baku mutu air kelas II dalam PP No 82 yang dikeluarkan oleh Menteri Kesehatan No. 492/Menkes/Per/IV/2010. Diketahui sungai Batang Limun telah mengalami perubahan karakteristik fisika dan kimia. Dari grafik  kosentrasi kekeruhan, pH, TSS, TDS  Cu, Pb, Zn, Mn, Hg terlihat bahwa penambang emas tanpa izin (PETI) dengan cara amalgamasi yang menyebabkan terjadinya penurunan kualitas air sungai. Sejak tahun 2009 sampai tahun 2015  sungai Limun dan sekitarnya terus mengalami penurunan kualitas air. Penurunan kualitas yang cukup tinggi terjadi  yaitu peningkatan nilai Rata-rata konsentrasi merkuri pada sungai Batang Limun dari 0,18ppb (0,00018 mg/l)  menjadi 0,3ppb (0,0003 mg/l), peningkatan tersebut dipengaruhi oleh proses kegiatan penambangan dan nilai tersebut masih dibawah standar baku mutu air kelas II  pp nomor 82 tahun 2010.Kata kunci :   Kualitas Air, Sungai Limun,TSS, Merkuri, PETI Limun river is one of the major rivers in the area of Sarolangun, which utilized by the society as a source of livelihood. The aim of study  to analyze the effect of mining activities on  the water quality of Batang Limun River, and the changes of physical and chemical properties of water. The method used are grab  and stream samples to  sediment analyzed in the laboratory. A number of samples were taken at several locations based Flow Gold Mining Sub-watershed and compared to some other samples taken at the location that has not been contaminated by mining activities. Water quality analysis referring to SMEWW, 22nd edition 2012 and refers to Regulation No 82 that issued by Minister of Health No. 492 / Menkes / Per / IV / 2010.The results showed that the Limun river has undergone chemical changes in physical characteristics. These symptoms can be seen from the discoloration of clear water in the river before the mine becomes brownish after mining, based on graphic of muddiness concentration: pH, TSS, TDS Cu, Pb, Zn, Mn, Hg have seen that  the illegal miner which used amalgamation caused deterioration in water quality, data from 2009 to 2015 Limun river and surrounding areas continue to experience a decrease in water quality. The decreasing of water quality showed in the TSS parameter which found in the area is to high based on  the standard of water quality class II pp number 82 of 2010. An increase in the value of average concentrations of mercury in the Batang Limun river before mine 0,18ppb (0.00018 mg / l) into 0,3ppb (0.0003 mg / l) on the river after the mine. The increase was affected by the mining activities and the value is still below the air quality standard Grade II pp numbers 82 years 2010, although the value is still below with the standards quality standard, the mercury levels in water should still be a major concern because if it accumulates continuously in the water levels will increase and will be bad for health. In contrast to the concentration of mercury in sediments that have a higher value is 153 ppb (0,513ppm ) .Key Words :   Water Quality, Limun River, Mercury, Illegal gold mining


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