scholarly journals Anthropogenic and catchment characteristic signatures in the water quality of Swiss rivers: a quantitative assessment

Author(s):  
Martina Botter ◽  
Paolo Burlando ◽  
Simone Fatichi

Abstract. The hydrological and biogeochemical response of rivers carries information about solute sources, pathways, and transformations in the catchment. We investigate long-term water quality data of eleven Swiss catchments with the objective to discern the influence of catchment characteristics and anthropogenic activities on delivery of solutes in stream water. Magnitude, trends and seasonality of water quality samplings of different solutes are evaluated and compared across catchments. Subsequently, the empirical dependence between concentration and discharge is used to classify different solute behaviors. Although the influence of catchment geology, morphology and size is sometime visible on in-stream solute concentrations, anthropogenic impacts are much more evident. Solute variability is generally smaller than discharge variability. The majority of solutes shows dilution with increasing discharge, especially geogenic species, while sediment-related solutes (e.g. Total Phosphorous and Organic Carbon species) show higher concentrations with increasing discharge. Both natural and anthropogenic factors impact the biogeochemical response of streams and, while the majority of solutes show identifiable behaviors in individual catchments, only a minority of behaviors can be generalized across catchments that exhibit different natural, climatic and anthropogenic features.

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 1885-1904 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martina Botter ◽  
Paolo Burlando ◽  
Simone Fatichi

Abstract. The hydrological and biogeochemical response of rivers carries information about solute sources, pathways, and transformations in the catchment. We investigate long-term water quality data of 11 Swiss catchments with the objective to discern the influence of major catchment characteristics and anthropic activities on delivery of solutes in stream water. Magnitude, trends, and seasonality of water quality samplings of different solutes are evaluated and compared across catchments. Subsequently, the empirical dependence between concentration and discharge is used to classify the solute behaviors. While the anthropogenic impacts are clearly detectable in the concentration of certain solutes (i.e., Na+, Cl−, NO3, DRP), the influence of single catchment characteristics such as geology (e.g., on Ca2+ and H4SiO4), topography (e.g., on DOC, TOC, and TP), and size (e.g., on DOC and TOC) is only sometimes visible, which is also because of the limited sample size and the spatial heterogeneity within catchments. Solute variability in time is generally smaller than discharge variability and the most significant trends in time are due to temporal variations of anthropogenic rather than natural forcing. The majority of solutes show dilution with increasing discharge, especially geogenic species, while sediment-bonded solutes (e.g., total phosphorous and organic carbon species) show higher concentrations with increasing discharge. Both natural and anthropogenic factors affect the biogeochemical response of streams, and, while the majority of solutes show identifiable behaviors in individual catchments, only a minority of behaviors can be generalized across the 11 catchments that exhibit different natural, climatic, and anthropogenic features.


Author(s):  
Shefaliben Sureshbhai Patel ◽  
Susmita Sahoo

The seasonal investigation about the water quality from Damanganga river estuary on two habitats downstream and upstream was carried out from January to December 2019 containing three major seasons: winter, summer and monsoon. For this monitoring activity total 29 parameters (24 physico-chemical parameters and 5 heavy metals) were analyzed. Multivariate analyses suggested inter dependency among these studied parameters. Water Quality Index is computed based on the major fluctuated and affected parameters. The calculated values of WQI for all three seasons ranged from 122.84 to 173.82 which suggested poor water quality of the water body. WQI values of the investigation area proposed that the estuarine water quality is deteriorated due to high value of presented heavy metals (Aluminum, Iron, Manganese, Boron and Zinc), Chloride, Ammonium and Sulfate in water sample. In this case, the downstream station is having accessional pollutant contaminations while the upstream station is having diminutive pollutant contaminants. Temporally, the dominant frailty found during the winter followed by summer and monsoon. This study field exhibited poor quality of water; the reason behind this might be the impressive surrounding industrial zone as well as other anthropogenic activities. There is quite normal probability distribution expressed by the represented water quality data at the both habitats. The Bray-Curtis cluster analysis shows different percentage similarity level between the water quality parameters.  


Author(s):  
S. I. Ehiorobo ◽  
A. E. Ogbeibu

The water quality of the Okomu Wetland was evaluated using the Water Quality Index (WQI) technique which provides a number that expresses overall water quality of a water body or water sample at a particular time. Sampling of physicochemical parameters spanned two years covering the wet and dry seasons and the water quality data were obtained from 10 sampling locations; Ponds 36, 52, 54, 61, 64, 90, 94, Arhakhuan Stream, Okomu River (Agekpukpu) and Okomu River (Iron bridge) all within the Okomu National Park. Parameters such as Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Turbidity, pH, Electrical conductivity (EC), Chlorine (Cl), Nitrate (NO3), Sulphate (SO4), Sodium (Na), Magnesium (Mg), (Iron) Fe, Chromium (Cr), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), Lead (Pb), and Nikel (Ni) were used to compute WQI and the values obtained for the wetland ranged between 34.36 and 167.28. The Index shows that pond 36, 52 and 54 are unfit for drinking with values between 103.86 and 167.28; ponds 61 and 64 are of the very poor quality category with WQI values of 95.19 and 92.44 respectively, Pond 90, pond 94, Arhakhuan Stream and Okomu River (Agekpukpu) are of poor quality and WQI values between and 53.58 and 73.15. Whereas, the Okomu River (Iron bridge) is within the good water quality (34.36) category. The Okomu River by Iron bridge is of good quality rating while other sampled points were of poor, very poor or unfit for drinking though these water bodies are mostly free from anthropogenic activities because of the conservative status of the study area. A major source of pollution within the wetland is surface runoff. The water quality of the wetland may not be suitable for man’s consumption especially pond water which are majorly impacted by runoff, yet very important for the survival and sustenance of the forest animals and plants. The water quality index (WQI) interprets physicochemical characteristics of water by providing a value which expresses the overall water quality and thus, reveals possible pollution problems of a water body. It turns complex water quality data into information that is easily understandable and usable by scientists, researchers and the general public.


Author(s):  
Shefaliben Sureshbhai Patel ◽  
Susmita Sahoo

The seasonal investigation about the water quality from Damanganga river estuary on two habitats downstream and upstream was carried out from January to December 2019 containing three major seasons: winter, summer and monsoon. For this monitoring activity total 29 parameters (24 physico-chemical parameters and 5 heavy metals) were analyzed. Multivariate analyses suggested inter dependency among these studied parameters. Water Quality Index is computed based on the major fluctuated and affected parameters. The calculated values of WQI for all three seasons ranged from 122.84 to 173.82 which suggested poor water quality of the water body. WQI values of the investigation area proposed that the estuarine water quality is deteriorated due to high value of presented heavy metals (Aluminum, Iron, Manganese, Boron and Zinc), Chloride, Ammonium and Sulfate in water sample. In this case, the downstream station is having accessional pollutant contaminations while the upstream station is having diminutive pollutant contaminants. Temporally, the dominant frailty found during the winter followed by summer and monsoon. This study field exhibited poor quality of water; the reason behind this might be the impressive surrounding industrial zone as well as other anthropogenic activities. There is quite normal probability distribution expressed by the represented water quality data at the both habitats. The Bray-Curtis cluster analysis shows different percentage similarity level between the water quality parameters.  


2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 4401-4424
Author(s):  
Christian Lehr ◽  
Ralf Dannowski ◽  
Thomas Kalettka ◽  
Christoph Merz ◽  
Boris Schröder ◽  
...  

Abstract. Time series of groundwater and stream water quality often exhibit substantial temporal and spatial variability, whereas typical existing monitoring data sets, e.g. from environmental agencies, are usually characterized by relatively low sampling frequency and irregular sampling in space and/or time. This complicates the differentiation between anthropogenic influence and natural variability as well as the detection of changes in water quality which indicate changes in single drivers. We suggest the new term “dominant changes” for changes in multivariate water quality data which concern (1) multiple variables, (2) multiple sites and (3) long-term patterns and present an exploratory framework for the detection of such dominant changes in data sets with irregular sampling in space and time. Firstly, a non-linear dimension-reduction technique was used to summarize the dominant spatiotemporal dynamics in the multivariate water quality data set in a few components. Those were used to derive hypotheses on the dominant drivers influencing water quality. Secondly, different sampling sites were compared with respect to median component values. Thirdly, time series of the components at single sites were analysed for long-term patterns. We tested the approach with a joint stream water and groundwater data set quality consisting of 1572 samples, each comprising sixteen variables, sampled with a spatially and temporally irregular sampling scheme at 29 sites in northeast Germany from 1998 to 2009. The first four components were interpreted as (1) an agriculturally induced enhancement of the natural background level of solute concentration, (2) a redox sequence from reducing conditions in deep groundwater to post-oxic conditions in shallow groundwater and oxic conditions in stream water, (3) a mixing ratio of deep and shallow groundwater to the streamflow and (4) sporadic events of slurry application in the agricultural practice. Dominant changes were observed for the first two components. The changing intensity of the first component was interpreted as response to the temporal variability of the thickness of the unsaturated zone. A steady increase in the second component at most stream water sites pointed towards progressing depletion of the denitrification capacity of the deep aquifer.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Lynne Powell ◽  
HanShe Lim ◽  
Iain Brown ◽  
Tao Huang ◽  
Niels C. Munksgaard ◽  
...  

With little data available on the quality of stormwater discharging from urban catchments to the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), the driver for the Smart Catchments: Saltwater Creek project was “If we don’t monitor, we can’t manage”. To do this, near real-time high-frequency discharge and water quality data are needed. A second driver was to make available, for the first time in a GBR catchment, near real-time water quality data for Council’s management actions but also for the community from an education perspective to engage them in water quality issues. Working collaboratively with industry, community, educators and scientists, the project, led by Cairns Regional Council, fulfils a commitment to the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan. This paper presents a more holistic and effective approach to monitor and manage water quality runoff from urban catchments.


2013 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 150-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caterina Scaramelli

This paper takes water quality as an ethnographic subject. It looks at how water quality monitors in Boston make sense of the quality of water through mundane engagement with three non-human beings who they encounter during their monitoring activities: herring, bacteria and water lily. Each of these organisms suggests a different understanding of water quality for the monitors and poses a dilemma. Water quality monitors who contribute to the production of water quality data come to know water quality as through direct interactions with these beings, mediated by both sensorial experience and laboratory data. These experiences, at the same time, confuse and redraw relationships between science, water flows, non-human vitality, including that of invasive species, and people.


2021 ◽  
Vol 109 ◽  
pp. 105679
Author(s):  
António Carlos Pinheiro Fernandes ◽  
Lisa Maria de Oliveira Martins ◽  
Fernando António Leal Pacheco ◽  
Luís Filipe Sanches Fernandes

2003 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 722-743 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. P. Jarvie ◽  
C. Neal ◽  
P. J. A. Withers ◽  
A. Robinson ◽  
N. Salter

Abstract. Water quality data, collected by the Environment Agency in England and Wales over 10 years (1991 – 2000) were used to examine the spatial distribution of nutrient pollution risk and for assessing broad-scale spatial and temporal variability in nutrient fluxes across the Wye catchment. Nutrient water quality across the upper and middle Wye catchment, and along the main River Wye, is generally very good. However, the main areas of concern lie in the small tributaries in the south and east of the catchment, which have lower dilution capacity and high agricultural and effluent inputs, and where mean Total Reactive Phosphorus (TRP) in some cases exceed 1 mg-P l-1. Indeed, mass load calculations have demonstrated that the lowland south and east portion of the catchment contributes more than 85% of the whole-catchment TRP and more than 78% of nitrate (NO3‾) loads. Ratios of NO3‾:Ca were used to fingerprint different water-types across the catchment, linked to weathering and agricultural activity. The Wye catchment has been subject to two major sets of perturbations during the study period: (i) climatic fluctuations, with a drought during 1995-6, followed by a subsequent drought-break in 1997/8, and extreme high river flows in the autumn/winter of 2000/2001, and (ii) introduction of tertiary P-treatment at major sewage treatment works in the catchment. The implications of these perturbations for the nutrient water quality of the Wye catchment are discussed. Recommendations are made for more targeted monitoring to directly assess diffuse source nutrient contributions. Keywords: nutrients, phosphate, phosphorus, nitrate, nitrogen, river, Wye, PSYCHIC, Defra


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