Abstract
Total maximum allocated load (TMAL) is the maximum sum total of all the pollutant loading a water body can carry without surpassing the water quality criterion, which is dependent on hydrodynamics and water quality conditions. A coupled hydrodynamic and water quality model combined with field observation was used to study pollutant transport and TMAL for water environment management in Qinhuangdao (QHD) sea in the Bohai Sea in northeastern China for the first time. Temporal and spatial variations of the chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration were investigated based on MIKE suite (Danish Hydraulic Institute, Hørsholm, Denmark). A systematic optimization approach of adjusting the upstream pollutant emission load was used to calculate TMAL derived from the predicted COD concentration. The pollutant emission load, TMAL, and pollutant reduction of Luanhe River were the largest due to the massive runoff, which was identified as the most influential driving factor for water environmental capacity and total carrying capacity of COD. The correlation analysis and Spearman coefficient indicate strong links between TMAL and forcing factors such as runoff, kinetic energy, and pollutant emission load. A comparison of total carrying capacity in 2011 and 2013 confirms that the upstream pollutant control scheme is an effective strategy to improve water quality along the river and coast. Although, the present model results suggest that a monitoring system could provide more efficient total capacity control. The outcome of this study establishes the theoretical foundation for coastal water environment management strategy in this region and worldwide.
Highlights
With growing industrialization and urbanization, effluent discharge and human activities impose increasing pressure on coastal ecosystems and natural resources, especially in densely populated coastal zones [1]
5, CODofwas as concentration the focus this study, it was toempirically imposeofanthe upper limit control criterion of 2.0necessary mg/L was determined was selected as the focus of this study, and it was necessary to impose an upper limit of concentration control criterion of
2013, which supplemented data for large-scale distribution of was was calculated based on the chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration distribution which was dominated by tidal current calculated based on the concentration distribution which was dominated by tidal current forcing
Summary
With growing industrialization and urbanization, effluent discharge and human activities impose increasing pressure on coastal ecosystems and natural resources, especially in densely populated coastal zones [1]. Coastal water is contaminated by discharge of land-based pollutant and marine aquaculture, which causes increasing water pollution for residents as well as risk of eutrophication. Stricter limits for pollutant emissions and effective coastal management are vital to prevent water pollution and improve the coastal environment [5,6]. The upper limit of pollutant discharging into a coastal area has been identified as the environmental carrying capacity by GESAMP (Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection) [7]. The quantity of pollutant transported to the open sea was estimated by the water exchange rate and observations of water quality and hydrodynamics, and the transport quantity was determined as the environmental capacity in the 1980s [10]; this method has suffered from discontinuity of data and human factors
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