scholarly journals Long-Term Assessment of Surface Water Quality in a Highly Managed Estuary Basin

Author(s):  
Angelica M. Moncada ◽  
Assefa M. Melesse ◽  
Jagath Vithanage ◽  
René M. Price

Anthropogenic developments in coastal watersheds cause significant ecological changes to estuaries. Since estuaries respond to inputs on relatively long time scales, robust analyses of long-term data should be employed to account for seasonality, internal cycling, and climatological cycles. This study characterizes the water quality of a highly managed coastal basin, the St. Lucie Estuary Basin, FL, USA, from 1999 to 2019 to detect spatiotemporal differences in the estuary’s water quality and its tributaries. The estuary is artificially connected to Lake Okeechobee, so it receives fresh water from an external basin. Monthly water samples collected from November 1999 to October 2019 were assessed using principal component analysis, correlation analysis, and the Seasonal Kendall trend test. Nitrogen, phosphorus, color, total suspended solids, and turbidity concentrations varied seasonally and spatially. Inflows from Lake Okeechobee were characterized by high turbidity, while higher phosphorus concentrations characterized inflows from tributaries within the basin. Differences among tributaries within the basin may be attributed to flow regimes (e.g., significant releases vs. steady flow) and land use (e.g., pasture vs. row crops). Decreasing trends for orthophosphate, total phosphorus, and color and increasing trends for dissolved oxygen were found over the long term. Decreases in nutrient concentrations over time could be due to local mitigation efforts. Understanding the differences in water quality between the tributaries of the St. Lucie Estuary is essential for the overall water quality management of the estuary.

2015 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 96-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danijela Voza ◽  
Milovan Vukovic ◽  
Ljiljana Takic ◽  
Djordje Nikolic ◽  
Ivana Mladenovic-Ranisavljevic

AbstractThe aim of this article is to evaluate the quality of the Danube River in its course through Serbia as well as to demonstrate the possibilities for using three statistical methods: Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Factor Analysis (FA) and Cluster Analysis (CA) in the surface water quality management. Given that the Danube is an important trans-boundary river, thorough water quality monitoring by sampling at different distances during shorter and longer periods of time is not only ecological, but also a political issue. Monitoring was carried out at monthly intervals from January to December 2011, at 17 sampling sites. The obtained data set was treated by multivariate techniques in order, firstly, to identify the similarities and differences between sampling periods and locations, secondly, to recognize variables that affect the temporal and spatial water quality changes and thirdly, to present the anthropogenic impact on water quality parameters.


Author(s):  
N.O. Popovyan ◽  
◽  
A.B. Usov

The article examines the interaction of subjects of a two-level hierarchical system. An industrial enterprise discharges wastewater into the river as a result of its work. To prevent the ingress of a large amount of pollutants, water treatment facilities have been installed, the operation of which is regulated by the level of technical support. The state allocates funds to support the activities of the enterprise and regulates the standards for the discharge of pollutants. The interests of both subjects are to maximize their target functional. The article is devoted to the problem of finding optimal control in a mathematical model of water quality management in a dynamic system. Examples of calculations for specific parameters are given. Based on the examples given, we can draw conclusions about the influence of parameters on the system. The type of the emitted substance has the greatest influence on the system, namely the values of such parameters as the initial concentration and the coefficient of non-conservativeness. With long-term interaction, the speed of self-cleaning of the river plays a significant role. At a low level of self-purification of the river, the concentration of substances in the river almost reaches the maximum permissible level. The deterioration of the environmental situation leads to losses on the part of the Host. The reverse situation allows us to continue cooperation in the future, while receiving a greater gain. Also, the winnings of the subjects significantly depend on the volume of investments.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-98
Author(s):  
Chandra Sekhar Matli ◽  
Nivedita

Surface water quality is one of the critical environmental concerns of the globe and water quality management is top priority worldwide. In India, River water quality has considerably deteriorated over the years and there is an urgent need for improving the surface water quality. The present study aims at use of multivariate statistical approaches for interpretation of water quality data of Mahanadi River in India. Monthly water quality data pertaining to 16 parameters collected from 12 sampling locations on the river by Central Water Commission (CWC) and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is used for the study. Cluster analysis (CA), is used to group the sampling locations on the river into homogeneous clusters with similar behaviour. Principal component analysis (PCA) is quite effective in identifying the critical parameters for describing the water quality of the river in dry and monsoon seasons. PCA and Factor Analysis (FA) was effective in explaining 69 and 66% of the total cumulative variance in the water quality if dry and wet seasons respectively. Industrial and domestic wastewaters, soil erosion and weathering, soil leaching organic pollution and natural pollution were identified as critical sources contribution to pollution of river water. However, the quantitative contributions were variable based on the season. Results of multiple linear regression (MLR) are effective in explaining the factor loadings and source contributions for most water quality parameters. The study results indicate suitability of multivariate statistical approaches to design and plan sampling and sampling programs for controlling water quality management programs in river basins.


1988 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Lepistö ◽  
P. G. Whitehead ◽  
C. Neal ◽  
B. J. Cosby

A modelling study has been undertaken to investigate long-term changes in surface water quality in two contrasting forested catchments; Yli-Knuutila, with high concentrations of base cations and sulphate, in southern Finland; and organically rich, acid Liuhapuro in eastern Finland. The MAGIC model is based on the assumption that certain chemical processes (anion retention, cation exchange, primary mineral weathering, aluminium dissolution and CO2 solubility) in catchment soils are likely keys to the responses of surface water quality to acidic deposition. The model was applied for the first time to an organically rich catchment with high quantities of humic substances. The historical reconstruction of water quality at Yli-Knuutila indicates that the catchment surface waters have lost about 90 μeq l−1 of alkalinity in 140 years, which is about 60% of their preacidification alkalinity. The model reproduces the declining pH levels of recent decades as indicated by paleoecological analysis. Stream acidity trends are investigated assuming two scenarios for future deposition. Assuming deposition rates are maintained in the future at 1984 levels, the model indicates that stream pH is likely to continue to decline below presently measured levels. A 50% reduction in deposition rates would likely result in an increase in pH and alkalinity of the stream, although not to estimated preacidification levels. Because of the high load of organic acids to the Liuhapuro stream it has been acid before atmospheric pollution; a decline of 0.2 pH-units was estimated with increasing leaching of base cations from the soil despite the partial pH buffering of the system by organic compounds.


Water ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marsha Putri ◽  
Chao-Hsun Lou ◽  
Mat Syai’in ◽  
Shang-Hsin Ou ◽  
Yu-Chun Wang

The application of multivariate statistical techniques including cluster analysis and principal component analysis-multiple linear regression (PCA-MLR) was successfully used to classify the river pollution level in Taiwan and identify possible pollution sources. Water quality and heavy metal monitoring data from the Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) was evaluated for 14 major rivers in four regions of Taiwan with the Erren River classified as the most polluted river in the country. Biochemical oxygen demand (6.1 ± 2.38), ammonia (3.48 ± 3.23), and total phosphate (0.65 ± 0.38) mg/L concentration in this river was the highest of the 14 rivers evaluated. In addition, heavy metal levels in the following rivers exceeded the Taiwan EPA standard limit (lead: 0.01, copper: 0.03, and manganese: 0.03) mg/L concentration: lead-in the Dongshan (0.02 ± 0.09), Jhuoshuei (0.03 ± 0.03), and Xinhuwei Rivers (0.02 ± 0.02) mg/L; copper: in the Dahan (0.036 ± 0.097), Laojie (0.06 ± 1.77), and Erren Rivers are (0.05 ± 0.158) mg/L; manganese: in all rivers. A total 72% of the water pollution in the Erren River was estimated to originate from industrial sources, 16% from domestic black water, and 12% from natural sources and runoff from other tributaries. Our research demonstrated that applying PCA-MLR and cluster analysis on long-term monitoring water quality would provide integrated information for river water pollution management and future policy making.


Author(s):  
Olena Voloshkina ◽  
Olena Zhukova ◽  
Irina Korduba ◽  
Daniil Marshall

The most important component of ecologically safe development of natural and socio-economic systems is the use of nature, which involves the organization of water resources, which ensures sustainable development and for a long time retains sufficient water potential. The ХХІ century is characterized by significant negative changes in the natural environment caused by the uncontrolled use of natural resources, the development of industry and transport, which leads to increased water consumption and at the same time increase its pollution. This has been particularly noticeable over the last 50 years, when human impact on the planet's water cycle has reached a global scale. Deterioration of the ecological condition of surface waters is due to qualitative and quantitative depletion of factors of their formation, which in some cases makes it impossible to use them for economic purposes. Water quality of water bodies is formed under the influence of both natural and anthropogenic factors. As a result of human activity in reservoirs many anthropogenic substances of various degree of toxicity can arrive. The article attempts to assess changes in surface water quality over the past decade and to determine the degree of natural and man-made transformation of rivers in the region and the possibility of their self-restoration and stabilization of the ecological danger of the region. The existing methods of assessment of water bodies by chemical indicators used in the area of operation of mining enterprises are considered. In some methods, the assessment of water bodies usually reflects regional features rather than their own pollution. Calculations for the water basin river Siverskyi Donets are made and relevant patterns are established.


Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 1673
Author(s):  
Claude Daou ◽  
Mervat El Hoz ◽  
Amine Kassouf ◽  
Bernard Legube

The primary objective of this study is to explore a water quality database on two Mediterranean rivers (the Kadisha-Abou Ali and El Jaouz rivers—located in north Lebanon), considering their physicochemical, microbiological and fluorescence characteristics. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to the matrix gathering physicochemical and microbiological data while the Common Components and Specific Weight Analysis (CCSWA) or ComDim was used for fluorescence excitation-emission matrices (EEMs). This approach provided complementary and valuable information regarding water quality in such complex ecosystem. As highlighted by the PCA and ComDim scores, the Kadisha-Abou Ali River is highly influenced by anthropogenic activities because its watershed districts are intensively populated. This influence reveals the implication of organic and bacteriological parameters. To the contrary, the El Jaouz watershed is less inhabited and is characterized by mineral parameters, which determines its water quality. This work highlighted the relationship between fluorescence EEMs and major water quality parameters, enabling the selection of reliable water quality indicators for the studied rivers. The proposed methodology can surely be generalized to the monitoring of surface water quality in other rivers. Each customized water quality fingerprint should constantly be inspected in order to account for any emerging pollution.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 1215-1228
Author(s):  
Sanja Obradović ◽  
Milana Pantelić ◽  
Vladimir Stojanović ◽  
Aleksandra Tešin ◽  
Dragan Dolinaj

Abstract ‘Bačko Podunavlje’ represents one of the largest and the best-preserved wetland areas of the upper Danube. Water quality is crucial for nature in protected areas and ecotourism. The paper is based on data for the period 1992–2016. Using multivariate statistical analysis, water quality was defined. One-factor analysis of variations is the starting point for the analysis of time variables (annual and monthly analysis). The principal component analysis (PCA) of the ten quality parameters is in the three factors that determine the greatest impact on the change in water quality. Results revealed the satisfactory ecological status of the Danube River in these sections (Bezdan and Bogojevo) and there is no threat that the biodiversity of this area is endangered by poor water quality, which fully justifies the possibilities for intensive development of ecotourism in the biosphere reserve. Suspended solids are the only parameter that exceeds the allowed limit values in a larger number of measurements, especially in the summer period of the year. Other analyzed water quality parameters range within the allowed limit values for the second class of surface water quality based on the Law on Waters (Republic of Serbia) and in accordance with the Water Quality Classification Criteria of ICPDR.


2003 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 335-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald R. Ontkean ◽  
David S. Chanasyk ◽  
Sandi Riemersma ◽  
D. Rodney Bennett ◽  
Jerry M. Brunen

Abstract A three-year study was conducted to examine the effects of a prairie wetland enhanced for waterfowl habitat on surface water quality in the Crowfoot Creek watershed in southern Alberta, Canada. Monitoring was carried out at the Hilton wetland from mid-March to the end of October in 1997 to 1999 at two inflow sites and one outflow site. Data were collected on flow, total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), total suspended solids (TSS), and fecal coliform (FC) bacteria. Nutrient concentrations were highest in the spring, and decreased during the remainder of the monitoring period each year. Nutrient concentrations did not change significantly within the wetland due to the form of nutrient, reduced retention times for nutrient uptake, and the addition of nutrients to the water through sediment release and decomposition of organic matter. The wetland acted as both a source and a sink for nutrients, depending on flow volumes. TSS concentrations decreased significantly from inflow to outflow, indicating sedimentation occurred in the wetland. FC bacteria levels were lowest in the spring and increased during the post-spring runoff (PSRO) period. FC bacteria counts decreased significantly within the wetland throughout the entire year. The Hilton wetland was effective in reducing the amounts of TSS and FC bacteria exported from the wetland; however, there was no significant change in nutrient status.


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