scholarly journals Integrated Modelling to Support Analysis of COVID-19 Impacts on London's Water System and In-river Water Quality

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barnaby Dobson ◽  
Tijana Jovanovic ◽  
Yuting Chen ◽  
Athanasios Paschalis ◽  
Adrian Butler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Water Demand ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Water System ◽  
Domestic Wastewater ◽  
Integrated Modelling ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Pollutant Concentrations ◽  
River Quality ◽  
At Home

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, citizens of the United Kingdom were required to stay at home for many months in 2020. In the weeks before and months following lockdown, including when it was not being enforced, citizens were advised to stay at home where possible. As a result, in a megacity such as London, where long-distance commuting is common, spatial and temporal changes to patterns of water demand are inevitable. This, in turn, may change where people's waste is treated and ultimately impact the in-river quality of effluent receiving waters. To assess large scale impacts, such as COVID-19, at the city scale, an integrated modelling approach that captures everything between households and rivers is needed. A framework to achieve this is presented in this study and used to explore changes in water use and the associated impacts on wastewater treatment and in-river quality as a result of government and societal responses to COVID-19. Our modelling results revealed significant changes to household water consumption under a range of impact scenarios, however, they only showed significant impacts on pollutant concentrations in household wastewater in central London. Pollutant concentrations in rivers simulated by the model were most sensitive in the tributaries of the River Thames, highlighting the vulnerability of smaller rivers and the important role that they play in diluting pollution. Modelled ammonia and phosphates were found to be the pollutants that rivers were most sensitive to because their main source in urban rivers is domestic wastewater that was significantly altered during the imposed mobility restrictions. A model evaluation showed that we can accurately validate individual model components (i.e., water demand generator) and emphasised need for continuous water quality measurements. Ultimatly, the work provides a basis for further developments of water systems integration approaches to project changes under never-before seen scenarios.

scholarly journals Detecting, extracting and classifying foreign objects in inter-basin channels to ensure water supply safety

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junjie Chen ◽  
Donghai Liu
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Water Supply ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Water Channels ◽  
Aerial Images ◽  
Aerial Image ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Foreign Objects ◽  
Water Supply Safety

Abstract Foreign objects (e.g., livestock, rafting, and vehicles) intruded into inter-basin channels pose threats to water quality and water supply safety. Timely detection of the foreign objects and acquiring relevant information (e.g., quantities, geometry, and types) is a premise to enforce proactive measures to control potential loss. Large-scale water channels usually span a long distance and hence are difficult to be efficiently covered by manual inspection. Applying unmanned aerial vehicles for inspection can provide time-sensitive aerial images, from which intrusion incidents can be visually pinpointed. To automate the processing of such aerial images, this paper aims to propose a method based on computer vision to detect, extract, and classify foreign objects in water channels. The proposed approach includes four steps, i.e., aerial image preprocessing, abnormal region detection, instance extraction, and foreign object classification. Experiments demonstrate the efficacy of the approach, which can recognize three typical foreign objects (i.e., livestock, rafting, and vehicle) with a robust performance. The proposed approach can raise early awareness of intrusion incidents in water channels for water quality assurance.

Air Pollution Threats to US National Parks of the Great Lakes Region

1983 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 303-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas V. Armentano ◽  
Orie L. Loucks
Keyword(s):  
Great Lakes ◽  
National Parks ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Atmospheric Transport ◽  
Air Pollutant ◽  
Great Lakes Region ◽  
Chemical Transformations ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Pollutant Concentrations ◽  
Us Federal Government

The Great Lakes region of the interior of North America supports a large human population, a major industrial base, and recreational and scenic amenities of unusual contrast and quality. To protect portions of this landscape and meet national recreational needs, the US Federal Government has established 10 National Parks, Monuments, and Lakeshores, in the region, extending from northern Minnesota to the southern shore of Lake Erie. However, air pollutant sources from the industrial Midwest, and large-scale coal combustion for electricity along the Ohio Valley, show evidence of significantly threatening the resource qualities protected in these parks.A review of the natural resources and amenities in each of the National Parks, Monuments, and Lakeshores, in the region shows that scenic vistas are of primary significance, with unique biota (largely northern coniferous species and associated bird-life) and clear water also prominent. Pollutant concentrations in the southern sites, however, are above the thresholds that are known to produce stress, foliage damage, and altered growth-rates on many sensitive species, including the coniferous trees. These pollutants include gases such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides (NOX) that are primary emissions of relatively local origin, as well as pollutants such as sulphate particulates, ozone, and acidic deposition, produced by chemical transformations during long-distance atmospheric transport. The particulates, in combination with the high average summer humidity, produce a reduction of visibility at the southern sites, and hence the partial loss of an important amenity.

scholarly journals In-Situ Water Quality Observations under a Large-Scale Floating Solar Farm Using Sensors and Underwater Drones

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 6421
Author(s):  
Rui L. Pedroso de Lima ◽  
Katerina Paxinou ◽  
Floris C. Boogaard ◽  
Olof Akkerman ◽  
Fen-Yu Lin
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Water System ◽  
Open Water ◽  
Quality Parameters ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Water Quality Parameters ◽  
Solar Panels ◽  
Floating Structure

The rapid implementation of large scale floating solar panels has consequences to water quality and local ecosystems. Environmental impacts depend on the dimensions, design and proportions of the system in relation to the size of the surface water, as well as the characteristics of the water system (currents, tidal effects) and climatic conditions. There is often no time (and budget) for thorough research into these effects on ecology and water quality. A few studies have addressed the potential impacts of floating solar panels, but often rely on models without validation with in situ data. In this work, water quality sensors continuously monitored key water quality parameters at two different locations: (i) underneath a floating solar park; (ii) at a reference location positioned in open water. An underwater drone was used to obtain vertical profiles of water quality and to collect underwater images. The results showed little differences in the measured key water quality parameters below the solar panels. The temperature at the upper layers of water was lower under the solar panels, and there were less detected temperature fluctuations. A biofouling layer on the floating structure was visible in the underwater images a few months after the construction of the park.

scholarly journals Scenarios of water quality management in watershed with distributed spatio-temporal simulation

RBRH ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelen Mannes Knaesel ◽  
Adilson Pinheiro ◽  
Pedro Thiago Venzon ◽  
Vander Kaufmann
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Quality Management ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Water Quality Management ◽  
Generic Model ◽  
Small Contribution ◽  
Pollutant Concentrations ◽  
Spatio Temporal

ABSTRACT The implementation of National Water Resources Policy instruments depends on detailed information in space and time, on a large scale, within the river basin. This research aims to evaluate scenarios to support water quality management in watershed by modelling with spatio-temporal discretization distributed in a small spatial dimension. The SWAT hydrological model was applied in the Itajai river basin. This hydrographic basin with 15,000 km2 was discretized in 2,103 hydrological response units (HRUs). The model input data for each HRU were fed in, from the quantitative and qualitative aspects. The time series of water quality was obtained in non-systematic monitoring from different sources, such as water supply companies and potential polluting companies, among others. The model calibration and validation were performed, presenting adequate results for both the quantitative and qualitative processes. The scenarios corresponding to current and evolutionary situations of pollutant contribution for four water quality parameters (biochemical oxygen demand, total phosphorus, total nitrogen and thermotolerant coliforms) were analysed. The results are expressed as the mean, median, non-exponential frequency of 80% and reference flow, discussing the statistical index that best represents the pollutant concentrations in the bodies of water. The simulations show that the measures proposed for the water quality management of the basin promote a significant reduction in pollutant concentrations in comparison to the critical scenario. According to the results, it can be affirmed that the discretization of the basin in small contribution areas generates greater results precision of the model. The daily and distributed data in the basin provide localized information, according to the basin ortho coding, supporting the decision in order to support the management of water resources, contributing to the implementation process of the framework of surface water courses in the basin, as well as serving as a generic model for other purposes.

Going the Distance

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ron Harris
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Family Firms ◽  
Global Trade ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Business Corporation ◽  
Modern Economy ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Silk Route ◽  
Passive Investors

Before the seventeenth century, trade across Eurasia was mostly conducted in short segments along the Silk Route and Indian Ocean. Business was organized in family firms, merchant networks, and state-owned enterprises, and dominated by Chinese, Indian, and Arabic traders. However, around 1600 the first two joint-stock corporations, the English and Dutch East India Companies, were established. This book tells the story of overland and maritime trade without Europeans, of European Cape Route trade without corporations, and of how new, large-scale, and impersonal organizations arose in Europe to control long-distance trade for more than three centuries. It shows that by 1700, the scene and methods for global trade had dramatically changed: Dutch and English merchants shepherded goods directly from China and India to northwestern Europe. To understand this transformation, the book compares the organizational forms used in four major regions: China, India, the Middle East, and Western Europe. The English and Dutch were the last to leap into Eurasian trade, and they innovated in order to compete. They raised capital from passive investors through impersonal stock markets and their joint-stock corporations deployed more capital, ships, and agents to deliver goods from their origins to consumers. The book explores the history behind a cornerstone of the modern economy, and how this organizational revolution contributed to the formation of global trade and the creation of the business corporation as a key factor in Europe's economic rise.

Unintended consequences of biofuels production?The effects of large-scale crop conversion on water quality and quantity

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather L. Welch ◽  
Christopher T. Green ◽  
Richard A. Rebich ◽  
Jeannie R.B. Barlow ◽  
Matthew B. Hicks
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Unintended Consequences ◽  
Water Quality And Quantity

Predictability of fouling-potential of raw water for ultrafiltration membranes

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 481-489
Author(s):  
S. Krause ◽  
A. Obermayer
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Membrane Fouling ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
High Capacity ◽  
Raw Water ◽  
Ultrafiltration Membranes ◽  
Small Water ◽  
Lab Experiments ◽  
Flux Decline ◽  
Public Drinking Water

The public drinking water supply of southern Germany is characterized by a rather decentralized network. Due to the hydrogeological setting in these parts of Germany many of the small water works with an average capacity of 50 m3/h have to treat raw water extracted from karstic or cliffy aquifers. These raw waters tend to be contaminated with particles and pathogens acquired during snowmelt or after strong rainfalls. In the last decade ultrafiltration has become the technology of choice for the removal of the aforementioned contaminants. Flux decline caused by unanticipated membrane fouling is the main limitation for the application of ultrafiltration membranes. This paper describes how membrane fouling phenomena can be predicted by using a statistical approach based on data from large scale filtration systems in combination with field and lab experiments on raw water quality and membrane performance. The data defines water quality and respective fouling phenomena both in technical scale filtration plants and in lab experiments of eleven different raw waters. The method described here is more economically feasible for small water works when compared to typical pilot experiments that are used for high capacity water works.

Bottlenecks in the Implementation of On-Site Wastewater Treatment Plants on a Large Scale in The Netherlands

1990 ◽  
Vol 22 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 291-298
Author(s):  
Frits A. Fastenau ◽  
Jaap H. J. M. van der Graaf ◽  
Gerard Martijnse
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Housing Stock ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Field Research ◽  
Domestic Wastewater ◽  
Research Programme ◽  
Definition Of

More than 95 % of the total housing stock in the Netherlands is connected to central sewerage systems and in most cases the wastewater is treated biologically. As connection to central sewerage systems has reached its economic limits, interest in on-site treatment of the domestic wastewater of the remaining premises is increasing. A large scale research programme into on-site wastewater treatment up to population equivalents of 200 persons has therefore been initiated by the Dutch Ministry of Housing, Physical Planning and Environment. Intensive field-research work did establish that the technological features of most on-site biological treatment systems were satisfactory. A large scale implementation of these systems is however obstructed in different extents by problems of an organisational, financial and/or juridical nature and management difficulties. At present research is carried out to identify these bottlenecks and to analyse possible solutions. Some preliminary results are given which involve the following ‘bottlenecks':-legislation: absence of co-ordination and absence of a definition of ‘surface water';-absence of subsidies;-ownership: divisions in task-setting of Municipalities and Waterboards; divisions involved with cost-sharing;-inspection; operational control and maintenance; organisation of management;-discharge permits;-pollution levy;-sludge disposal. Final decisions and practical elaboration of policies towards on-site treatment will have to be formulated in a broad discussion with all the authorities and interest groups involved.

Large-scale wetland-restoration of the Ronde Venen, The Netherlands

1995 ◽  
Vol 31 (8) ◽  
pp. 197-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. L. Bijlmakers ◽  
E. O. A. M. de Swart
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Wetland Restoration ◽  
Pollution Control ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Major Elements ◽  
Control Mechanisms ◽  
Important Criterion ◽  
Spatial Strategy ◽  
Hydrological Characteristics ◽  
Spatial Composition

For the area of the Ronde Venen a plan for large-scale wetland-restoration and improvement of the water quality was developed. Major elements of the developed spatial strategy are the optimal use of the specific hydrological and ecological characteristics of the area. Based on regional hydrological characteristics within the study area hydrological sub-units were distinguished by connecting discharge and recharge areas. In this way the intake of polluted surface water from outside the area could be minimized, with an optimal use of specific local differences in water quality. Two scenarios were developed and evaluated using hydrological, hydrochemical and ecological models. The scenarios differed in spatial composition and the way the water level was manipulated. In order to optimize water quality, natural and artificial pollution control mechanisms were implemented as well. An important criterion for the evaluation was the extent to which the scenarios succeeded in optimizing conditions for the realization of the ecological goals. The most promising and acceptable scenario has been worked out in further detail.

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