Investigation of push-flow aeration on improving water quality in urban lakes

Abstract

Urban artificial lakes are essential water resources in cities and are responsible for flood control, landscaping, biodiversity maintenance, and human entertainment. However, their ecosystems are susceptible to be heavily harmed owing to urban floods and human activities. Although several methods have been employed for water quality restoration in various urban lakes, choosing the most effective method is challenging, owing to the complicated factors that influence the urban lake system. This study employed the MIKE 21 FM model to investigate the effects of push-flow aeration on the restoration of water quality in typical artificial urban lakes by establishing scenarios to predict the impact of push-flow aeration under various aeration layouts. The results showed that the irregular, enclosed shape of artificial urban lakes is key to determining the optimal push-flow aeration strategy. As for the specific arrangement, the aerator location and quantity should be prioritized first, followed by the outflow mode, flow rate, and nearshore/offshore in turn, with DO as high as possible within a reasonable range.