Combined system of extreme control of mineralized water dilution in river basins

The theory of combined systems of extreme control, which is used in technical systems, was developed and adapted in socio-ecological-economic systems. For example, river basins are such systems. A combined extreme control system has been formalized to control the dilution of mineralized mine waters in river sections. A mathematical model of the distribution of water masses and pollution in river beds from point and diffuse sources is proposed on the basis of a system of difference balance equations under the influence of stochastic uncontrolled disturbances. With regard to such conditions as adequate instrumentation, a combined control system has been developed that uses decision-making according to environmental and economic criteria based on the analysis of input and output data simultaneously, identification and tracking of the optimum in conditions of displacement under the influence of the disturbances of extreme characteristics of the system. The structural and functional diagram is represented by the open-loop diagram, the identification of which is carried out on the basis of modeling the process of water dilution in various situations at a specific object. A closed part with a recognition system as a corrector provides feedback. Formalized mathematical models of the dynamics of water masses and pollution from point and diffuse sources are of a general nature and can be used for the basins of other rivers. The extreme control system can adapt to the hydrological conditions and water quality parameters of a particular river. A mathematical model has been formalized for the combined extreme control of mine water dilution in the section of the Ingulets river. The water for dilution comes from a storage pond in the Svystunov gully. Regulatory actions that maintain water quality without exceeding the normative values ​​of maximum permissible discharge are determined. At the same time, water consumption for dilution is minimized. The scenario analysis of the options showed a saving of up to 30% of water resources, namely 17.5 million m3, compared to the dilution carried out in February-March 2021 according to the existing individual regulations.

Microbiological and Physico-Chemical Parameters of the Danube River (Romanian–Bulgarian Sector) with Ichthyofaunal Diversity

Water and water habitats are essential to life and to the wellness of the communities that rely on them, as the Danube river is subject to human impact and vice versa, periodic surveys are required to determine the status of its pollution levels. In this work we used known microbiological indicators as well as physico-chemical ones to assess the ecotoxicological status of the Danube river from eleven locations partially forming the “Romanian–Bulgarian Danube Sector”. Most of the microbial communities found, and their densities, could be explained by point and diffuse sources scattered along the sector such as discharged household and farm wastewater, as well as nearby agricultural areas where fertilizers have been used and then leaked in the water stream during rainfalls. However, microbial data on non-point sources that lead to diffuse pollution of surface waters could be linked to such parameters and furthermore shown a slight correlation with the current status of fish communities.

About the Issues of the Water Resources Management and Water Use Regulatory/ methodical Base Development in the Russian Federation

The article considers the main problems of water complex management related to the shortcomings of the existing system of normative and methodological documents regulating the activities of the sector. There is currently no overall water management system throughout the country. Among the most important problems mentioned is the lack of assessment of the reliability of data on water use and consumption, given in the form of 2TP-water form and other reporting materials supplied by departments as state reports. The system of standards is unsatisfactory. The methods used to calculate the state of water bodies have become obsolete, starting with the assessment of background states, pollution of water bodies from point and diffuse sources. It is noted that the experience accumulated in the industry in the application of regulatory documents requires constant work on the analysis of their effectiveness and improvement, which today is not carried out to a sufficient extent. To coordinate the development of new and editing existing regulatory and methodological documents, it is recommended to create a methodological center under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology with the involvement of leading specialists of the Russian Federation.

Screening and Distribution of Contaminants of Emerging Concern and Regulated Organic Pollutants in the Heavily Modified Guadalhorce River Basin, Southern Spain

Emerging pollutants have aroused an increasing concern due to their ubiquitous presence in the environment and harmful potential. Both emerging (e.g., pharmaceuticals and personal care products) and regulated organic pollutants pose a serious threat to water quality and their presence and spatial distribution are complicated to address as they can derive from several factors: distribution of point and diffuse sources, environmental conditions, hydrogeological features of the region and inherent properties of the considered contaminants. In this study, a ground and surface water monitoring campaign was conducted in the three main detritic groundwater bodies of an extensive and heavily modified river basin in order to draft an initial description of the occurrence and distribution of a wide range of organic contaminants. In total, 63 out of 185 target pollutants were detected. An attempt to understand the importance of different factors governing the distribution of some of the most frequently found pollutants was made. Antibiotics spatial distribution is potentially influenced by the hydrogeological functioning of the basin modified by hydraulic infrastructures (reflected by hydrochemistry and environmental tracers δ2H and δ18O), not directly related to the distribution of potential sources. The presence of other organic pollutants does not reflect an evident correlation with flow pathways. Differences in contaminant occurrence are potentially attributed to the way pollutants are released into the environment as well as physico-chemical properties.

Full-scale dissolved air flotation (DAF) equipment for emergency treatment of eutrophic water

Eutrophication of urban rivers has caused severe environmental problems due to the pollution from point and diffuse sources. Although eutrophication can be alleviated by reducing the input to the river system, fast-treating terminal control technologies, especially under emergent situations, should be developed to reduce risks induced by eutrophication. The present study developed an emergency purification device based on dissolved air flotation (DAF) technology. After equipment commissioning and parameter optimization for applications in the field of engineering, the device was found to effectively remove total phosphorus, chlorophyll a, chemical oxygen demand, and turbidity in water by controlling the coagulant dosage and adjusting the gas-liquid mixing pump parameters. Dissolved air in water could enhance dissolved oxygen, and dissolved oxygen in polluted rivers could be raised from 0.2–2 mg/L to 3–3.5 mg/L. Removal of total nitrogen was poor because the majority of nitrogen contents were dissolved. Finally, DAF has been proven to be a promising technology due to its ease of implementation, low equipment investment requirement, and low operation cost.