Influence of Anthropogenic Load in River Basins on River Water Status: A Case Study in Lithuania

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1312
Author(s):  
Laima Česonienė ◽  
Daiva Šileikienė ◽  
Midona Dapkienė
Keyword(s):  
Total Nitrogen ◽  
Total Phosphorus ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
River Basins ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
Anthropogenic Load ◽  
Agricultural Pollution ◽  
Agricultural Activity ◽  
Good Ecological Status ◽  
The Impact

Twenty-four rivers in different parts of Lithuania were selected for the study. The aim of the research was to evaluate the impact of anthropogenic load on the ecological status of rivers. Anthropogenic loads were assessed according to the pollution sources in individual river catchment basins. The total nitrogen (TN) values did not correspond to the “good” and “very good” ecological status classes in 51% of the tested water bodies; 19% had a “bad” to “moderate” BOD7, 50% had “bad” to “moderate” NH4-N, 37% had “bad” to “moderate” NO3-N, and 4% had “bad” to “moderate” PO4-P. The total phosphorus (TP) values did not correspond to the “good” and “very good” ecological status classes in 4% of the tested water bodies. The largest amounts of pollution in river basins were generated from the following sources: transit pollution, with 87,599 t/year of total nitrogen and 5020 t/year of total phosphorus; agricultural pollution, with 56,031 t/year of total nitrogen and 2474 t/year of total phosphorus. The highest total nitrogen load in river basins per year, on average, was from transit pollution, accounting for 53.89%, and agricultural pollution, accounting for 34.47%. The highest total phosphorus load was also from transit pollution, totaling 58.78%, and agricultural pollution, totaling 28.97%. Multiple regression analysis showed the agricultural activity had the biggest negative influence on the ecological status of rivers according to all studied indicators.

scholarly journals Influence of Anthropogenic Loads on Surface Water Status: A Case Study in Lithuania

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 4341
Author(s):  
Laima Česonienė ◽  
Daiva Šileikienė ◽  
Vitas Marozas ◽  
Laura Čiteikė
Keyword(s):  
Total Nitrogen ◽  
Water Status ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
Agricultural Pollution ◽  
Good Ecological Status ◽  
Water Catchment ◽  
Lake Basins

Twenty-six water bodies and 10 ponds were selected for this research. Anthropogenic loads were assessed according to pollution sources in individual water catchment basins. It was determined that 50% of the tested water bodies had Ntotal values that did not correspond to the good and very good ecological status classes, and 20% of the tested water bodies had Ptotal values that did not correspond to the good and very good ecological status classes. The lake basins and ponds received the largest amounts of pollution from agricultural sources with total nitrogen at 1554.13 t/year and phosphorus at 1.94 t/year, and from meadows and pastures with total nitrogen at 9.50 t/year and phosphorus at 0.20 t/year. The highest annual load of total nitrogen for lake basins on average per year was from agricultural pollution from arable land (98.85%), and the highest total phosphorus load was also from agricultural pollution from arable land (60%).

Analysis of Requirements for Effluent Quality and their Impact on Status of Rivers

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Regimantas Dauknys ◽  
Aušra Mažeikienė
Keyword(s):  
Organic Pollutants ◽  
Total Nitrogen ◽  
Total Phosphorus ◽  
Good Condition ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Treated Wastewater ◽  
Effluent Quality ◽  
Lithuanian Rivers ◽  
The Impact

The article analyses Lithuanian rivers, 32 of which have been selected as non-complying with the require-ments of good condition. Furthermore, 15 discharge facilities that discharge wastewater to the aforementioned rivers from agglomerations with population equivalent (PE) greater than 2,000 have been selected. The assessment of the quality of treated wastewater according to the allowable impact on the reception facility has been carried out and has been compared with the currently regulated minimum allowable values of concentrations of pollutants. The analysis of the impact of quality of treated wastewater on the ecological status of rivers has been presented. It has been established that the pollution of rivers would be decreased by an average 8% (organic pollutants and total nitrogen) and by 22% (total phosphorus), if the allowable concentrations of pollutants according to the impact on the reception facility were ensured in the analysed treatment plants with PE greater than 10,000.

INTEGRAL ASSESSMENT OF ANTHROPOGENIC PRESSURE ON WATER BODIES IN THE LAKE BAIKAL BASIN

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irina Ulzetueva ◽  
Bair Gomboev ◽  
Daba Zhamyanov ◽  
Valentin Batomunkuev ◽  
Zorikto Banzaraktsaev
Keyword(s):  
Lake Baikal ◽  
River Basins ◽  
Anthropogenic Load ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressure ◽  
Linear Network ◽  
Baikal Basin ◽  
Discharge Water ◽  
Lake Baikal Basin ◽  
Integral Assessment ◽  
The Impact

The integrated assessment of the ecological state of the main rivers of the lake Baikal basin - Verkhnyaya Angara, Tyya, Barguzin, Selenga, Snezhnaya, Bolshaya Rechka, Khilok, Chikoy is based on the assessment of the variability of the basin system under the influence of two groups of indicators: 1) Direct (immediate) impact - the volume of water intake and wastewater discharge, water use and sequential water supply. Assessment of the impact on the state of the above-listed rivers basins from wastewater was performed using the algorithm proposed by A. Korolev et al. (2007). 2) Indirect (mediate) impact - indicators of areal and linear-network impacts on the catchment area. Based on the calculation of the integral anthropogenic pressure on the territory of the above-listed river basins, only the Selenga river experiences an “average” anthropogenic load. On the territory of most river basins, the anthropogenic load is “lowered” and “low”.

scholarly journals Assessment of the Impact of Small Hydropower Plants on the Ecological Status Indicators of Water Bodies: A Case Study in Lithuania

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 433
Author(s):  
Laima Česonienė ◽  
Midona Dapkienė ◽  
Petras Punys
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Benthic Macroinvertebrates ◽  
Suspended Solids ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Fish Abundance ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
Small Hydropower ◽  
Hydropower Plants ◽  
Physico Chemical ◽  
The Impact

Hydropower plants produce renewable and sustainable energy but affect the river’s physico-chemical characteristics and change the abundance and composition of the aquatic organisms. The impact of large HPPs on the ecological conditions of surface water bodies have been extensively studied, but less attention has been paid to environmental impact studies of small hydropower plants (SHPs). The impact of hydropeaking on both the river flow regime and ecosystems has been well-studied for peaking mode plants, mainly medium to large-sized ones. However, for small hydroelectric power plants, and especially for those in lowland rivers, the available information on water quality, benthic macroinvertebrates communities and fish abundance, and biomass is not sufficient. Ten small hydropower plants were selected, and the ecological status of water bodies was assessed in different parts of Lithuania. The studies were performed at the riverbed upstream from the SHPs, where the hydrological regime has not changed, and downstream from the SHPs. It was found that the small hydropower plants do not affect the physico-chemical values of the water quality indicators. This study demonstrated that the total number of benthic macroinvertebrates taxa (TS) is influenced by the concentration of nitrogen and suspended solids, the water flow, the river area, and the current speed; the number of EPT (Ephemeroptera (mayflies), Plecoptera (stoneflies), and Trichoptera (caddisflies)) taxa is influenced by the concentration of nitrogen and suspended solids. The studied indicators do not have a significant impact on biomass. The SHPs affect the fish abundance and biomass. The Lithuanian fish index (LFI) is influenced by the average depth and area of the river. Some SHPs operating in lowland areas may yield somewhat significant hydrograph ramping but more detailed investigation is needed to support the significance of this impact on the biological indices.

scholarly journals A rule-based modelling concept to simulate hydromorphological measures – a tool for the design of programmes of measures for the EU Water Framework Directive

2007 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 101-105
Author(s):  
H. Nacken
Keyword(s):  
Water Framework Directive ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Morphological Structure ◽  
Eu Water Framework Directive ◽  
Rule Based ◽  
European Water ◽  
Promising Solution ◽  
Good Ecological Status ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Eu

Abstract. Hydromorphological deficits are of real concern regarding the goals of the European Water Framework Directive to reach a good ecological status. The effects of measures that change the morphological structure of a river is hard to predict. Existing methods to simulate this process in a traditional numerical model can not be applied to whole river systems. Using a rule-based modelling concept to find feasible measures and predict the impact of those measures is a very promising solution.

scholarly journals METHODOLOGY FOR THE NITRATE VULNERABLE ZONES DESIGNATION IN SURFACE AND GROUND WATER

2020 ◽  
pp. 38-48
Author(s):  
N.M. Osadcha ◽  
◽  
V.I. Osadchyi ◽  
V.V. Osypov ◽  
S.V. Biletska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Pollution ◽  
Ground Water ◽  
Nitrogen Balance ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Threshold Value ◽  
Small Rivers ◽  
Agricultural Activity ◽  
Nitrogen Surplus ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Vulnerable Zones

The article presents the national methodology for the identification of vulnerable areas to pollution of surface and ground water by nutrients compounds. The designation of nitrate vulnerable zones is an effective tool to reduce the impact of agricultural activities on water pollution by nutrients and is used for managing of diffuse pollution within river basins to achieve “good” ecological status. The analysis of heterogeneity of natural conditions in Ukraine and intensity of agricultural activity allows to determine 3 types of zones which differ in vulnerability: 1. Zones of high risk of water pollution, where nitrogen surplus in soil and washing and periodic washing regime are favorable for the nitrate leaching; 2. Zones of potential water pollution, where a deficient nitrogen balance in soil is observed in conditions of washing and periodic washing regime; 3. Zones of short-term pollution, where positive nitrogen balance in soil is noted by the unwashed water regime. The content of dissolved forms of mineral nitrogen (Nminer) in water and the presence of eutrophication process in the water body were recommended to use as criterias for designation of vulnerable zones. For the small rivers with a Strahler coefficient < 5, the nitrate vulnerable zones designation is recommended using the criterion of the nitrogen mineral forms content with a threshold value of 11,3 mgN/l. For the rivers with a Strahler coefficient ≥ 5, reservoirs, estuaries and coastal waters the designation is carried out on the basis of eutrophication. For the groundwater, it is based on the content of nitrogen mineral forms less than 9,7 mgN/l. This method was developed in Ukraine for the first time.

A machine learning model to link ecological response and anthropogenic stressors: a tool for water management in the Tagus River Basin (Spain)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlotta Valerio ◽  
Alberto Garrido ◽  
Gonzalo Martinez-Muñoz ◽  
Lucia De Stefano
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Riparian Forest ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Machine Learning Model ◽  
Tagus River ◽  
Good Ecological Status

&lt;p&gt;Freshwater ecosystems are threatened by multiple anthropic pressures. Understanding the effect of pressures on the ecological status is essential for the design of effective policy measures but can be challenging from a methodological point of view. In this study we propose to capture these complex relations by means of a machine learning model that predicts the ecological response of surface water bodies to several anthropic stressors. The model was applied to the Spanish stretch of the Tagus River Basin. The performance of two machine learning algorithms -Random Forest (RF) and Boosted Regression Trees (BRT) - was compared. The response variables in the model were the biotic quality indices of macroinvertebrates (Iberian Biomonitoring Working Party) and diatoms (Indice de Polluosensibilit&amp;#233; Sp&amp;#233;cifique). The stressors used as explanatory variables belong to the following categories: physicochemical water quality, land use, alteration of the hydrological regime and hydromorphological degradation. Variables describing the natural environmental variability were also included. According to the coefficient of determination, the root mean square error and the mean absolute error, the RF algorithm has the best explanatory power for both biotic indices. The categories of land cover in the upstream catchment area, the nutrient concentrations and the elevation of the water body are ranked as the main features at play in determining the quality of biological communities. Among the hydromorphological elements, the alteration of the riparian forest (expressed by the Riparian Forest Quality Index) is the most relevant feature, while the hydrological alteration does not seem to influence significantly the value of the biotic indices. Our model was used to identify potential policy measures aimed at improving the biological quality of surface water bodies in the most critical areas of the basin. Specifically, the biotic quality indices were modelled imposing the maximum concentration of nutrients that the Spanish legislation prescribes to ensure a good ecological status. According to our model, the nutrient thresholds set by the Spanish legislation are insufficient to ensure values of biological indicators consistent with the good ecological status in the entire basin. We tested several scenarios of more restrictive nutrient concentrations and values of hydromorphological quality to explore the conditions required to achieve the good ecological status. The predicted percentage of water bodies in good status increases when a high&amp;#160; Riparian Forest Quality Index is set, confirming the importance of combining physico-chemical and hydromorphological improvements in order to ameliorate the status of freshwater ecosystems.&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Evaluation of the level of human impact on the river sediments in Russia

2019 ◽  
Vol 135 ◽  
pp. 01051
Author(s):  
Valentina Kurochkina
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Water Body ◽  
River Sediments ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Ecological Condition ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
Water Control ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressures ◽  
Channel Processes ◽  
The Impact

The growing race of urbanization and population growth lead to anthropogenic load on the water is increasing all the time. High population density and considerable industrial potential of the urbanized territory are becoming dominant sources of pollution of water bodies. This trend identifies progressive pollution of water bodies and the growing need for sanitary-ecological status of water control facilities. Natural chemical composition and properties of water in surface water bodies are formed depending on the hydrological, soil, climate and other features. Flowinduced suspensions in urban watercourses is one of the main ways of contamination distribution in urbanized areas. For monitoring and reducing the negative impacts on the water quality of watercourses requires estimation of anthropogenic pressures and studying its spatio-temporal variability. Analysis of anthropogenic stress on water objects allows you to set the relationship between the number of coming in the water body of pollutants and concentrations of chemicals in the water. The main aim is to determine the amounts of contaminants accumulated in the river riverbed during the period of the economic utilization of the watercourse and to assess the impact of urbanization on its ecological status. The article deals with the influence of anthropogenous load on river hydraulics and properties of channel sediments that determine the course of channel processes and overall ecological condition of water objects. The interrelation between water body condition, water quality and sediment pollution is presented. Method of estimation of anthropogenous load pollutants in river of urban area sis proposed. Comparative analysis of the load for the rivers of Russia with various water run-off is demonstrated.

scholarly journals Relationship between the Water Quality Elements of Water Bodies and the Hydrometric Parameters: Case Study in Lithuania

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 500
Author(s):  
Laima Česonienė ◽  
Daiva Šileikienė ◽  
Midona Dapkienė
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Chlorophyll A ◽  
Water Exchange ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Taxonomic Composition ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Nitrogen Phosphorus ◽  
Fish Index

The larger and deeper lakes and ponds are, the better the conditions for spontaneous water purification, slower hydrobiological processes and slower accumulation of sediment. The goal of this research was to assess the ecological status of selected Lithuanian lentic water bodies and the impact of morphometric indicators on water quality. Multiple studies were conducted on 29 lakes and 10 ponds located throughout Lithuania in 2014–2018. The study proved that higher maxima and average depths of lakes correlate with lower Ptotal, Ntotal yield and macrophyte taxonomic composition values, indicating higher ecological status class. Higher chlorophyll a EQR, ichthyofauna taxonomic composition indicator for Lithuanian fish index LFI and Lithuanian lakes’ macroinvertebrate index indicates a higher ecological class. Larger lake areas contain smaller amounts of Ptotal and Ntotal, indicating better ecological status class; higher ichthyophane taxonomic composition in LFI, zoobenthos taxonomic composition indicator for Lithuanian lakes’ macroinvertebrates index (LLMI) and taxonomic composition of macrophytes MRI indicate better ecological status class. Larger lake areas contain lower chlorophyll a EQR values. Rapid water exchange improves the condition of the lake in addition to nitrogen, phosphorus and chlorophyll a EQR values. The faster the water exchange in the lake is, the lower the Ptotal and Ntotal values; faster water exchange in the lake also means higher chlorophyll a EQR values. However, slower water exchange indicates better ecological status of the macrophytic taxonomic composition of the MRI, the ichthyofauna taxonomic composition and the Lithuanian lakes’ macroinvertebrates index indicator of zoobenthos.

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