Water Quality Modelling of the River Rhine and Its Tributaries in Relation to Sanitation Strategies

1984 ◽  
Vol 16 (5-7) ◽  
pp. 393-406 ◽  
Author(s):  
J A Van Pagee

Water quality modelling techniques havebeen used to evaluate and predict the influence of taken, projected and potential sanitation measures for domestic and industrial wastewater loads in the River Rhine drainage area. 15Because of serious eutrophication problems in the Dutch fresh water lakes, that are fed by the River Rhine, special attention is given to the quantification of sanitation measures that can reduce the nutrient concentrations. As a base for modelling the River Rhine water quality, a one-dimensional steady-state model MODQUAL (a modified version of the QUAL-II model) has been developed and applied on the riversystem downstream of Lake Constance, including the main tributaries Neckar, Main and Mosel and the Dutch branches IJssel, Lek and Waal. It is shown that the development of wasteloads and the introduction of biological (secondary) treatment since 1973, has resulted in a significant improvement of water quality components as DO, B0D5, COD, Kjeldahl-N and NH4-N. The influences of tertiary treatment directed on nitrogen or phosphorus removal and the introduction of phosphate-free detergents are quantified for various hydrological conditions.

2013 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 812-821 ◽  
Author(s):  
Koen Lock ◽  
Peter L. M. Goethals

Stoneflies are macro-invertebrates that are sensitive water quality indicators. Here, their occurrence was modelled based on physical–chemical water characteristics, river morphology and land use with five different modelling techniques. In a case-study in Flanders, stoneflies were found in 219 samples and two sets of absence data were gathered: 219 random samples from sites without stoneflies and 219 samples from sites downstream of each sampling site where stoneflies were observed. With both random and downstream absences, logistic regressions, artificial neural networks, support vector machines, random forests and classification trees could all successfully predict stonefly occurrence. For most environmental parameters, significant differences were found between sites with and without stoneflies. As stoneflies were only detected in a few percent of the samples, the ecological water quality is obviously still too low in most watercourses. Based on planned water quality improvement measures, an ensemble forecast using the five mentioned modelling techniques predicted that stonefly prevalence will only increase marginally by 2015 and 2027. To meet the European Union Water Framework Directive requirements, which states that all surface waters should obtain a good ecological quality, a more ambitious management plan is needed to decrease nutrient concentrations and improve habitat quality.


Author(s):  
Andrew R. Slaughter ◽  
Sukhmani K. Mantel

Abstract. The continuous decline in water quality in many regions is forcing a shift from quantity-based water resources management to a greater emphasis on water quality management. Water quality models can act as invaluable tools as they facilitate a conceptual understanding of processes affecting water quality and can be used to investigate the water quality consequences of management scenarios. In South Africa, the Water Quality Systems Assessment Model (WQSAM) was developed as a management-focussed water quality model that is relatively simple to be able to utilise the small amount of available observed data. Importantly, WQSAM explicitly links to systems (yield) models routinely used in water resources management in South Africa by using their flow output to drive water quality simulations. Although WQSAM has been shown to be able to represent the variability of water quality in South African rivers, its focus on management from a South African perspective limits its use to within southern African regions for which specific systems model setups exist. Facilitating the use of WQSAM within catchments outside of southern Africa and within catchments for which these systems model setups to not exist would require WQSAM to be able to link to a simple-to-use and internationally-applied systems model. One such systems model is the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) model, which incorporates a rainfall-runoff component (natural hydrology), and reservoir storage, return flows and abstractions (systems modelling), but within which water quality modelling facilities are rudimentary. The aims of the current study were therefore to: (1) adapt the WQSAM model to be able to use as input the flow outputs of the WEAP model and; (2) provide an initial assessment of how successful this linkage was by application of the WEAP and WQSAM models to the Buffalo River for historical conditions; a small, semi-arid and impacted catchment in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. The simulations of the two models were compared to the available observed data, with the initial focus within WQSAM on a simulation of instream total dissolved solids (TDS) and nutrient concentrations. The WEAP model was able to adequately simulate flow in the Buffalo River catchment, with consideration of human inputs and outputs. WQSAM was adapted to successfully take as input the flow output of the WEAP model, and the simulations of nutrients by WQSAM provided a good representation of the variability of observed nutrient concentrations in the catchment. This study showed that the WQSAM model is able to accept flow inputs from the WEAP model, and that this approach is able to provide satisfactory estimates of both flow and water quality for a small, semi-arid and impacted catchment. It is hoped that this research will encourage the application of WQSAM to an increased number of catchments within southern Africa and beyond.


2001 ◽  
Vol 44 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 321-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Payraudeau ◽  
M. G. Tournoud ◽  
F. Cernesson ◽  
B. Picot

The preservation of water bodies from eutrophication implies accurate estimation of phosphorus and nitrogen loads and the control of nutrient production on a catchment scale. In this paper, a simple tool for the modelling of annual nutrient loads is presented. It is implemented in ARC/INFO GIS using Arc Macro Language (AML). The use of a GIS is justified as the spatial characteristics of the catchment area (land use, industrial wastewater location) dictate water quality. The annual nutrient loads are worked out on the catchment scale, using existing GIS routines together with specific routines developed in AML for hydrological and water quality modelling purposes. The catchment area is divided into hydrological subcatchments with relatively homogeneous spatial characteristics. Each subcatchment is linked to a specific nutrient export potential. These nutrient loads, calculated on a subcatchment-by-subcatchment basis, are conveyed to the outlet of the catchment and allow annual nutrient load estimation. A comparison with a water monitoring study is conducted to verify the adequation of modelling results for phosphorus and nitrogen loads.


1983 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 297-297
Author(s):  
G. Brugnot

We consider the paper by Brugnot and Pochat (1981), which describes a one-dimensional model applied to a snow avalanche. The main advance made here is the introduction of the second dimension in the runout zone. Indeed, in the channelled course, we still use the one-dimensional model, but, when the avalanche spreads before stopping, we apply a (x, y) grid on the ground and six equations have to be solved: (1) for the avalanche body, one equation for continuity and two equations for momentum conservation, and (2) at the front, one equation for continuity and two equations for momentum conservation. We suppose the front to be a mobile jump, with longitudinal velocity varying more rapidly than transverse velocity.We solve these equations by a finite difference method. This involves many topological problems, due to the actual position of the front, which is defined by its intersection with the reference grid (SI, YJ). In the near future our two directions of research will be testing the code on actual avalanches and improving it by trying to make it cheaper without impairing its accuracy.


1982 ◽  
Vol 14 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 241-261 ◽  
Author(s):  
P A Krenkel ◽  
R H French

The state-of-the-art of surface water impoundment modeling is examined from the viewpoints of both hydrodynamics and water quality. In the area of hydrodynamics current one dimensional integral energy and two dimensional models are discussed. In the area of water quality, the formulations used for various parameters are presented with a range of values for the associated rate coefficients.


1991 ◽  
Vol 23 (1-3) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takeshi Goda

The management and status of public water bodies in Japan is discussed. The environmental quality standards which have been set and the levels of compliance with these standards are shown. The water quality of Japanese rivers, lakes, reservoirs, wetlands and coastal waters is described, and eutrophication problems are mentioned. The effects of changes in population density and levels of recycling of industrial wastewaters on the quality of water bodies are discussed. Almost 75% of industrial wastewater is now recycled. Per capita availability of freshwater in Japan is comparatively low, and the construction of 530 dams, in addition to the 2393 dams already in operation, is planned. Irrigation effluents from paddy fields are a major factor which influences river water quality in Japan. The improvement of water quality using various methods is discussed.


1990 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 137-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. T. Dokulil ◽  
G. A. Janauer

The system “Neue Donau” functions as a control system for high waters of the river Danube and is an important recreational area for many people. Water quality and trophic status of the water body is thereforeof prime importance. The high nutrient concentrations of the river Danube (P-tot 238±41µg/l, N-tot 2.53±0.78 mg/l) reach the system via groundwater seepage. Present conditions in the basin of Neue Donau are,as a result of this nutrient in-flux,eutrophic to hypertrophic. Average values during the summer period have declined from 366 µg/l total phosphorus to 78 µg/l, and from 86 µg/l chlorophyll-a tol7µg/l between the years 1985 and 1988. However, a dam which is planned in the river at Vienna will permanently raise the water level of the river thus increasing the the groundwater flow in the direction to the Neue Donau and therefore the nutrient input which will enhance trophic conditions in the impoundment. Since macrophytes play an important role in one part of the system macrophyte management together with measures along the river are some of the suggested strategies to keep the system Neue Donau at acceptable trophic conditions and good water quality.


1994 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 207-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Puzicha

Effluents from point sources (industries, communities) and diffuse inputs introduce pollutants into the water of the river Rhine and cause a basic contaminant load. The aim is to establish a biological warning system to detect increased toxicity in addition to the already existing chemical-physical monitoring system. To cover a wide range of biocides, continuous working biotests at different trophic levels (bacteria, algae, mussels, water fleas, fishes) have been developed and proved. These are checked out for sensitivity against toxicants, reaction time, validity of data and practical handling under field conditions at the river. Test-specific appropriate methods are found to differentiate between the normal range of variation and true alarm signals.


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