River Catchment Management: An Approach to the Derivation of Quality Standards for Farm Pollution and Storm Sewage Discharges

1989 ◽  
Vol 21 (8-9) ◽  
pp. 1065-1076 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Whitelaw ◽  
J. F. de L. G. Solbé

Water quality in certain UK rivers has deteriorated due to episodic pollution from farms and storm sewage overflows. In response to the need to further our knowledge of the effects of episodic events on water quality and to derive appropriate quality standards, WRc Environment has established a number of case studies involving both field and laboratory investigations. This paper describes the approach to standard setting which has been adopted in these studies. Two complementary approaches are used: the first based on examining published toxicity data in order to derive working draft standards; the second is the testing of these draft standards against the performance of living organisms.

Author(s):  
Anne C. Jennings

This chapter explores social work and community development practices in light of the urgent social, economic, and environmental issues facing the world today. Can those professions, established to support individuals and communities, overcome social disadvantage, evolve into new, alternative roles that seek combined human and non-human (animals, plants, living organisms) understandings leading towards transformative practices? Those professions are viewed within their own constructs and environmental agendas. Ancient and contemporary Indigenous knowledges are then considered, as they relate to the First Law of caring for their living country and living lifestyles. Two community development case studies are examined, involving non-Indigenous people in their community, and Indigenous traditional owners across a whole river catchment to address key questions: How can those disciplines contribute to ecological transformation? Can they appreciate and include non-humans in their practice? and How can Indigenous ancient and current knowledges contribute to social justice practice?


1995 ◽  
Vol 32 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 201-208
Author(s):  
P. J. Ashton ◽  
F. C. van Zyl ◽  
R. G. Heath

The Crocodile River catchment lies in an area which currently has one of the highest rates of sustained economic growth in South Africa and supports a diverse array of land uses. Water quality management is vital to resource management strategies for the catchment. A Geographic Information System (GIS) was used to display specific catchment characteristics and land uses, supplemented with integrative overlays depicting land-use impacts on surface water resources and the consequences of management actions on downstream water quality. The water quality requirements of each water user group were integrated to optimise the selection of rational management solutions for particular water quality problems. Time-series water quality data and cause-effect relationships were used to evaluate different water supply scenarios. The GIS facilitated the collation, processing and interpretation of the enormous quantity of spatially orientated information required for integrated catchment management.


1989 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 281-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. J. Hawkins ◽  
D. A. Geering

Water quality standards set in the past have not helped resource managers in the decisions that they face in seeking sustainable development. Resource managers are looking for meaningful information on water quality so as to evaluate the resource, set priorities for action, and to monitor progress. Resource managers need to know how water quality affects, and is affected by, catchment uses and activities. Examples of three wild and scenic rivers, the Nymboida, Murrumbidgee, and Hawkesbury/Nepean River systems, demonstrate how a ‘Total Catchment Management' approach to resource use and resource protection has advantages for water quality management.


1985 ◽  
Vol 17 (6-7) ◽  
pp. 1187-1198 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Mance ◽  
A. R. O'Donnell

This paper discusses the derivation of environmental quality standards for coastal waters and the difficulties of using such standards for controlling industrial discharges. Attention is focused on the common List II substances, copper, chromium, lead, nickel, zinc and arsenic - and their effects on marine life. The adequacy of existing toxicity data is discussed and it is concluded that long exposure tests are required to provide information on sublethal effects. Such data are currently limited. It is also important that consideration be given to the effects that reducing salinities and increasing temperatures have in increasing the toxicity of these substances. The complexity of interpreting the results of laboratory toxicity data to coastal waters is discussed with reference to a study of the impact of an industrial discharge.


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.


1988 ◽  
Vol 20 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 249-251
Author(s):  
Jacques Bernard

The flow and the water quality of the rivers vary throughout the year. Very frequently the environment protection authorities set up a quality objective for the river water and this mini mum quality level is constant. So, it wou1d seem possible to accept variable quality standards for plant effluents. A first approach of the problem,by a small French task group,based on three actual cases leads to the provisory conclusion that such a regulation is suitable and presents economical benefit only in some very limit ed cases.


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