Effectiveness of vegetative filter strips in abating fecal coliform based on modified soil and water assessment tool

Abstract

Pathogenic bacteria are a serious public health concern. Exposure to these microorganisms can result in illnesses or even death. Therefore, it is important to control pathogenic bacteria sources, transport mechanisms and fate. Best management practices proved to be very effective in the control of non-point source pollution. In this study, the soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) was modified and used to simulate the fecal coliform in Chao River of Miyun Reservoir watershed, China. The model was then used to explore the effectiveness of vegetative filter strips (VFS) in reducing fecal coliform abundance throughout the watershed. The water temperature equation within the SWAT was modified to align the model more closely with the characteristics of the study area and generate a more accurate simulation. The DAFSratio (20, 50, 80, 120 and 150) and DFcon (0.25, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.75) parameters were considered for VFS to see their effects on removal efficiency. The results show that calibration and validation results for fecal coliform and flow can be accepted. Different values for DAFSratio and DFcon have great influence on VFS. Increasing values resulted in a decrease in the removal efficiency of VFS.