scholarly journals Phosphorus and thermotolerant coliforms’ loads in Brazilian watersheds with limited data: considerations on the integrated analysis of water quality and quantity

RBRH ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis Otávio do Amaral Marques ◽  
Denise Taffarello ◽  
Maria do Carmo Calijuri ◽  
Eduardo Mario Mendiondo ◽  
Murilo de Souza Ferreira ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Integrated analyses of the qualitative and quantitative aspects of aquatic ecosystems play an important role in decision making, which is linked to water resources management and promotion of ecosystem services. However, the possible advantages of such integration are still hampered by basic aspects, such as high uncertainties due to the partial and non-synchronized monitoring of discharges and observed concentrations of water quality variables. The lack of data has been limiting the adequate representation of a more accurate hydrological regime, which is in turn possibly affected by the potential effects of land use and size of drainage areas. The aim of this research was to discuss the advantages of the integrated analysis of qualitative and quantitative data from water bodies. Under different specific discharge regimes (L.s -1.km-2), we assessed the total phosphorus (TP, t.day-1 .km-2) and thermotolerant coliforms’ (TC, CFU.day-1.km -2) specific loads in rivers with different drainage areas (27-26,500 km 2) and land uses. We compared such loads with the admissible specific loads for these variables, which were estimated based on long-term average discharges and water quality guidelines (i.e., Brazilian environmental standards). Based on data from 2001-2013, we sought to contribute to the qualitative and quantitative analysis of surface waters, focusing on the discussion of the results on critical thresholds of duration and critical loads and discharges. The results showed the existence of significant time intervals with conflicts between the specific admissible and observed loads. This non-compliance varied between 10 and 100% of the duration of the regime for TP, and between 25 and 100% for TC, with a more critical situation observed in rivers with smaller drainage areas. The critical loads ranged from 1 10-4 to 8 10-3 t.day-1.km-2 (TP) and 1 10-2 to 1 10-1 CFU.day-1.km-2 (TC). Although a relatively limited dataset was considered (total N=1,402), the significant variations in discharges and critical loads highlighted the need for considering how these dynamics would affect the traditional methodology for estimating ecological flows, whose current approach is almost exclusively quantitative.

Author(s):  
Heather L. Welch ◽  
Christopher T. Green ◽  
Richard A. Rebich ◽  
Jeannie R.B. Barlow ◽  
Matthew B. Hicks

1991 ◽  
Vol 23 (1-3) ◽  
pp. 201-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Kreisel

Water quality can affect human health in various ways: through breeding of vectors, presence of pathogenic protozoa, helminths, bacteria and viruses, or through inorganic and organic chemicals. While traditional concern has been with pathogens and gastro-intestinal diseases, chemical pollutants in drinking-water supplies have in many instances reached proportions which affect human health, especially in cases of chronic exposure. Treatment of drinking-water, often grossly inadequate in developing countries, is the last barrier of health protection, but control at source is more effective for pollution control. Several WHO programmes of the International Drinking-Water Supply and Sanitation Decade have stimulated awareness of the importance of water quality in public water supplies. Three main streams have been followed during the eighties: guidelines for drinking-water quality, guidelines for wastewater reuse and the monitoring of freshwater quality. Following massive investments in the community water supply sector to provide people with adequate quantities of drinking-water, it becomes more and more important to also guarantee minimum quality standards. This has been recognized by many water and health authorities in developing countries and, as a result, WHO cooperates with many of them in establishing water quality laboratories and pollution control programmes.


1995 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 281-288
Author(s):  
Susan Taljaard ◽  
Willem A. M. Botes

In South Africa the ultimate goal in water quality management is to keep the water resources suitable for all “beneficial uses”. Beneficial uses provides a basis for the derivation of water quality guidelines, which, for South Africa, are defined in Water quality guidelines for the South African coastal zone (DWAF, 1991). The CSIR has developed a practical approach to marine water quality management, taking into account international trends and local experience, which can be applied to any coastal development with potential influence on water quality. The management plan is divided into three logical components, i.e. • site-specific statutory requirements and environmental objectives; • system design with specific reference to influences on water quality; and • monitoring programmes. Within this management approach water quality issues are addressed in a holistic manner, through focused procedures and clear identification of information requirements. This paper describes the procedures and information requirements within each component of the water quality management plan, with specific reference to marine disposal systems. Ideally, the management plan should be implemented from the feasibility and conceptual design phase of a development and the timing of the different procedures within the development process are therefore also highlighted. However, the logical lay-out of procedures allows for easy initiation (even to existing disposal system) at any stage of development.


1995 ◽  
Vol 31 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 19-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. J. Medema ◽  
I. A. van Asperen ◽  
J. M. Klokman-Houweling ◽  
A. Nooitgedagt ◽  
M. J. W. van de Laar ◽  
...  

This pilot study was carried out to determine the relationship between microbiological water quality parameters and the occurrence of health complaints among triathletes. Data were collected at an Olympic distance triathlon (n=314) and a run-bike-run (n=81; controls for exposure to fresh water). At the time of the triathlon, the concentrations of Escherichia coli , thermotolerant coliforms, faecal streptococci, entero- and reoviruses, F-specific RNA phages, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Aeromonas, Plesiomonas shigelloides, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus were examined over the swimming course. Information on the occurrence of health complaints during the competition and in the week thereafter was collected through a written questionnaire. The results show that triathletes and run-bike-runners are comparable with respect to factors other than water exposure (age, sex, training history, physical stress, lower intestinal health complaints during the competition) that may influence the occurrence of health complaints in the week after the competition. Triathletes and run-bike-runners reported gastro-intestinal (7.7% vs 2.5%), respiratory (5.5% vs 3.7%), skin/mucosal (2.6% vs 1.2%), general (3.5% vs 1.2%) and total symptoms (14.8% vs 7.4%) in the week after the event. The health risks for triathletes for all symptom groups are not significantly higher than for run-bike-runners. The geometric mean concentration of faecal indicator bacteria is relatively low: E. coli 170/100 ml; faecal streptococci 13/100 ml, enteroviruses were present at concentrations of 0.1/l. The group of triathletes was homogeneusly and relatively intensely exposed to water; they all swam in the same body of water at the same time and 75% reported to have swallowed freshwater. It was concluded that this study design is suitable to study the relationship between health complaints and microbiological water quality. In the summers of 1993 and 1994, a study will be carried out concerning several run-bike-runs and triathlons in freshwaters of different quality.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 (9) ◽  
pp. 2861-2876
Author(s):  
Hamidreza Kazemi ◽  
Sam Abdollahian ◽  
Thomas D Rockaway ◽  
Joshua Rivard

Author(s):  
Jeremy A. Hartsock ◽  
Jessica Piercey ◽  
Melissa K. House ◽  
Dale H. Vitt

AbstractThe experimental Sandhill Wetland is the first permanent reclamation of a composite tailings deposit, and annual water quality monitoring is of specific interest for evaluating and predicting long-term reclamation performance. Here, we present water chemistry monitoring data obtained from Sandhill Wetland (years 2009–2019) and compare results to twelve natural reference wetlands and to environmental quality guidelines for Alberta surface waters. By comparing water quality at Sandhill Wetland and natural sites to established guidelines, we can begin to document the natural background water quality of wetlands in the region and examine if guideline exceedances are seen in natural undisturbed environments, or appear only at active reclamation sites. At Sandhill Wetland the dominant ions in near-surface water were bicarbonate, sulfate, chloride, sodium, calcium, and magnesium. Since the first growing season concentrations for these ions have increased annually, causing concurrent increases in electrical conductivity. In year 2019, water chemistry at Sandhill Wetland was most comparable to regional saline fens, systems that exhibit elevated electrical conductivity and high sodicity. Near-surface water at Sandhill Wetland exceeded water quality guidelines for three substances/properties (dissolved chloride, iron, and total alkalinity) in the most recent year of monitoring. The saline fen natural sites also exceeded water quality guidelines for the same chemical substances/properties, suggesting guideline exceedances are a norm for some natural wetland site types in the region. Of note, in each year of monitoring at Sandhill Wetland, dissolved organic compounds evaluated in sub- and near-surface water were below detection limits.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document