Pollutant dynamics in a subterranean estuary (Waquoit Bay, MA, USA) via mathematical modeling

Abstract

Minerals and nutrients are vital to life, but their excess can harm health and sometimes lead to life risks. Harmful impact of nutrients in water can be a threat to marine life as well. Waquoit Bay linked with its eight rivers and ponds is becoming the reason for excess nutrient passage into the Bay. Excess amounts of nutrients were found in Waquoit Bay from coastal areas and therefore analyzed in this work by a system of nine differential equations. The main objective of this paper is to develop a mathematical model to assess the situation of pollution in Waquoit Bay and suggest some solutions using optimal control theory with Hamiltonian system. Mathematical Model of water pollution will be evaluated numerically, with different input models to track environmental contamination in a water body. To prove the accuracy of this model, its numerical results will be compared with real data and the impact of control strategies i.e. nutrient control from housing area and bio dredging will be studied. Benefit of developing such mathematical models can be a decision support for planning restrictions in coastal areas near Waquoit Bay.