Concentrations Of Water Quality Parameters Research Articles

Integrated water quality assessment of open water bodies using empirical equations and remote sensing techniques in Bangweulu Wetland lakes, Zambia

Water quality assessment is essential for conserving aquatic ecosystems and human consumption. However, monitoring several water quality parameters in open water bodies poses significant challenges, resulting in gaps and limitations. While the Water Quality Index (WQI) integrates various water quality parameters, its spatial application has not yet been thoroughly evaluated. To address these issues, this study was conducted to establish an integrated remote sensing approach for comprehensive monitoring of water quality. Utilising Sentinel 2 data alongside on-site/lab water quality measurements, various relationships were established. The calculated mean WQI from on-site/lab data was 35, while from remotely sensed data was 41. Linear relationships (R2) between WQI and various water quality parameters such as chloride (0.712), sodium (0.705), TDS (0.705), turbidity (0.628), and EC (0.704) were observed. These relationships facilitated the transformation of water quality parameter maps into WQI maps, the WQI maps were then integrated into one WQI map showing the overall water quality status of the Bangweulu Wetland lakes. Both on-site/lab and remote sensing methods indicated that the concentrations of water quality parameters in the Bangweulu Wetland lakes is lower (better) than the local and international recommended limits, with a calculated WQI falling within the ’Good’ category. This indicates that the water is fresh, clean, and suitable for various purposes including ecological preservation, agriculture, aquaculture, recreation, industrial use, and human consumption. The findings offer insights into the general status of water quality in open water bodies, identifying hot spots and potential sources of water pollution with implications for future management practices.

Environmental assessment of Vaishav stream: a left bank tributary of river Jhelum in Kashmir Himalaya, India

The present study was carried out to assess the environmental impact including water quality parameters of Vaishav stream, one of the left bank tributary of river Jhelum. A detail study of the selected sites was undertaken for the sampling, keeping in mind the topography of the stream i.e. elevations, fast flowing areas, slow zones as well as human interferences. Three sites were selected for study purpose and samples were collected on monthly basis. A total number of 15 parameters were analyzed. Some of the parameters like temperature, pH, TDS, conductivity and 14dissolved oxygen were assessed on spot at sampling sites, while rest of parameters were determined in the laboratory by standard titration methods (APHC 2012). Low DO and higher concentration of pH, CO2, total alkalinity, hardness and nitrate, sulphate, was found at downstream site-III compared to upstream site-I, showing low concentration of these parameters except DO. WQI value varied from 41.50 to177.70 minimum at site-I and maximum at site-III. To quantify the association and co-relationship among various physico-chemical variables, correlation test (Pearson’s correlation coefficient) was carried out. Pearson’s test showed that significant positive correlation exists between pH with total hardness (r= 0.833, p<0.05). The electrical conductivity showed significant positive correlation with TDS (r=1.00, p<0.05), total hardness (r=.897, p<0.05) and sulphate (r=.917, p<0.05). The nitrate shows significant positive correlation with sulphate (r=0.947, p<0.05). The DO shows negative correlation with water temperature (r=-0.396, p<0.05), total alkalinity (r =-0.843, p<0.05) and sulphate (r=-0.902, p<0.05) respectively. Results of ANOVA showed significant level of spatial and temporal variations on the concentrations of water quality parameters (P<0.05, Turkey’s Post Hoc Test) across months at all sampling sites. Therefore, further research is needed to explore the ecological effects of these variations and develop strategies for sustainable water resource management to support ecologists, limnologists, policymakers and other stakeholders in developing long-term management programs and conservation strategies for water resources.

Spatial distribution of drinking, irrigation water quality, and health risk indices of high-altitude lakes

High-altitude lakes (HAL) play a key role in several ecological services of the environment by managing the water supply and flood control. The slow rate of inflowing contaminant circulation results in a buildup of higher levels of contamination level and makes these lakes more vulnerable. The present study focused on determining HAL's water quality parameters (WQP) in the Swat District, northern Pakistan. Water samples (n = 32) were collected and analyzed for basic parameters, anions, and potentially harmful elements (PHE). Results of examined parameters were noted under WHO threshold values, except for a few samples of iron (Fe) and arsenic (As). The concentrations of WQP in HAL were used to calculate drinking and irrigation water quality indices (WQI). Results revealed that the water of HAL was excellent and suitable for drinking and irrigation purposes. Gibbs plot and Piper model were used to identify water as a mixed type and source characterization of rock dominance. Water quality data were used for average daily dose (ADD) and hazard quotient (HQ) to find HAL water's potential health risks. The highest ADD value of 188 μg/kg-day was observed for nitrate (NO3), and the lowest of 0.31 μg/kg-day was noted for arsenic (As). However, maximum HQ values of 0.18 were reported for As and were observed to be less than the threshold of 1. Therefore, based on water quality, the HAL was recommended for use in drinking, domestic, and irrigation purposes.

Assessing the water quality in urban river considering the influence of rainstorm flood: A case study of Handan city, China

The water quality of urban rivers is subject to fluctuation caused by rainstorm flood. The uncertainty of flooding in a dynamic environment brings about changes in river quality, presenting a significant challenge. Water samples were collected at 7 sampling sites in Handan City of China from January 2020 to August 2023, and 9 water quality parameters (WT, pH, Cond, Do, COD, BOD, NH3-N, TP, and TP) were analyzed. Specifically, the spatial and temporal variation of water quality in the Qingzhang River was analyzed. In terms of season, the concentration of water quality parameters in spring and winter was found to be significantly higher than that in summer and autumn. Spatially, the concentration of water quality parameters was lower in the upstream compared to the downstream. Furthermore, it was discovered that the reservoir had a purifying effect on the water quality of the river. Additionally, a comparison of water quality during flood and non-flood periods revealed that the concentration of water quality parameters in the upstream, midstream, and downstream of the Qingzhang River were higher during non-flood periods. These findings indicated that, in comparison to the urbanization factor, the hydrological factor, which results in the runoff carrying nutrients into the Qingzhang River, plays a crucial role in the change of its water quality. Moreover, the autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) method was employed to create a water pollution emergency prediction model for the different sections of the Qingzhang River, and an adaptive urban river water purification strategy was formulated based on its variation patterns. The research results contribute to the theoretical basis for the management of urban rivers and water resources.

Investigating machine learning models in predicting lake water quality parameters as a 3-year moving average

Lake water quality plays a vital role in the lake ecosystem, including biotic (for living creatures, such as plants, animals, and micro-organisms) and abiotic interactions. In this research, various types of machine learning (ML) methodologies, such as classification and regression tree (CART), chi-squared automatic interaction detector (CHAID), C5 tree, quick, unbiased, and efficient statistical tree (QUEST), along with multilayer perceptron (MLP) neural network, and radial basis function (RBF) neural network, are employed to predict the concentration of water quality parameters (P, EC, TDS, pH, DO, NH3, SO4, and θ). Lake Erie is situated at the international border of the USA and Canada. The C5 tree and QUEST tree are used to classify data and predict the number of groups, while the other methods are used to predict the concentration of water quality parameters in the form of a 3-year moving average. The greater matching between the observed and predicted data of dissolved oxygen (NSE = 0.978, bias = 0.126) shows that the CART decision tree has higher accuracy in correctly detecting the concentration of this parameter. The C5 tree could identify 33 groups correctly out of 36 total groups, which shows better accuracy for the C5 tree in classifying the data for this parameter.

Evaluation of Water Quality at the Confluence Region of Diyala and Tigris Rivers Based on the Weighted Arithmetic Method

This study is conducted to assess the water quality index (WQI) of the Diyala and Tigris River confluence region south of Baghdad (Al-Tuwaitha), based on the Weighted Arithmetic method. Sixteen samples of water were collected from different location in the region through two periods 5/11/2021 and 13/3/2022. Water quality parameters such as (PH, EC, TDS, TH, Ca, Mg, Cl, Turbidity, ALK, SO4, HCO3, Na, and K) were used to evaluate WQI in the study area. The final results showed that the water was not suitable for drinking due to the high concentration of water quality parameters. In the 5 November 2021, the water quality in the study area was classified into (good, poor, very poor, and polluted) where the percentages of the above classes were 4%, 6%, 39%, and 51% respectively, while the percentages for the season 13thMarch 2022 were 1%, 41%, and 58% with very poor, polluted, and very polluted class, respectively. The water was not suitable for drinking due to the high concentration of water quality parameters in most locations in the study area. There are many sources of pollution in the region that dump their harmful waste into the river, which led to increase the concentrations of water quality parameters in most locations of study area.

Potential of Sentinel Images to Evaluate Physicochemical Parameters Concentrations in Water Bodies—Application in a Wetlands System in Northern Colombia

This research demonstrated the feasibility of applying Sentinel-2 images to generate empirical models and estimate physicochemical parameters concentration, particularly nutrients in the wetland system called Bajo Sinú wetlands complex, Colombia. Spearman correlations were determined between water quality parameters, which were monitored at 17 points in the wetland on 5 February 2021, with Sentinel-2 images reflectance values from the same monitoring date; the correlations allowed the identification of statistically significant bands in the multiple linear regression algorithm implementation to determine empirical water quality models. The results show significant correlations between the optically active parameters, TSS-Turbidity, which in turn correlated with the optically inactive parameters Turbidity-NO3 and TSS-DO, as well as non-optically active parameters among themselves, TDS-NO3 and TDS-TP; the empirical models presented higher than 74.5% fit (R2), particularly DO (R2 = 0.948), NO3 (R2 = 0.858) and TP (R2 = 0.779) were the models with the highest fits (R2). These models allowed us to properly estimate the spatial distribution of nutrient-forming compounds in the wetlands complex. The determinant role played by turbidity in this type of water body is highlighted; it acts as a connecting constituent that makes the estimation of water quality parameters without spectral response through remote sensing feasible. Sentinel-2 images and multiple linear regression algorithms have been shown to be effective in estimating the concentration of water quality parameters without spectral response, such as NO3 and TP in shallow tropical wetlands, due to the processes of transformation, interaction and dependence between the different environmental variables in aquatic ecosystems.

An assessment of water quality and the locals' perception of coastal lagoon pollution in ghana: A case study of chemu lagoon in tema

The Chemu lagoon is not immune to pollution through chemical waste contamination, refuse disposals, and untreated household sewage, and hence has been chosen as a case study. This paper aims to assess the lagoon's level of pollution. Chemical analysis of water samples, field observations, and a structured survey questionnaire was used to assess the state of the lagoon. The study revealed that the Chemu lagoon has inferior water quality as most of the parameters evaluated were above the acceptable standards of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Significant differences in concentrations of water quality parameters were established between seasons. The study found that respondents were aware of the lagoon’s polluted state and attributed pollution to siltation and waste dumping. This leads to offensive odour, livelihood losses emphasising a reduction in fishing activities, and outbreaks of diseases in the area. Conclusively, stakeholders have not prioritised mitigating pollution of the lagoon. The study recommends that the Environmental Health and Waste Management Departments of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly intensify house-to-house hygiene education and sanitary inspection in the area. There should be education and sensitisation on proper waste management practices in the area.

Development of modified integrated water quality index to assess the surface water quality: a case study of Tuo River, China.

Water quality evaluation is an important step in water environment control and management. The water quality index (WQI) is considered to be an effective method for water quality evaluation. However, when constructing the WQI, the contribution of the lower threshold limits of water quality parameters to water quality has received little attention. The principle of the modified integrated water quality index (IWQI) is that the concentration of any water quality parameter below the lower threshold limits as well as above the upper threshold limits will lead to an increase in the overall index value. Based on the concentration of water quality parameters, the modified IWQI classified water quality into five categories, i.e., bad (> 8), poor (5-8), medium (2-5), good (1-2), and excellent (< 1). Tuo River plays a crucial role in potable and irrigation water sources of Sichuan Province, and the assessment result of modified IWQI reveals that 67.8% of samples were classified as "medium," 29% "poor," and 3.2% "bad." The high concentrations of N and P from agricultural activities and industrial wastewater are the main contributors to the deterioration of water quality in the Tuo River. Additionally, the Tuo River presents the characteristics of worse water quality in the midstream. The evaluation results of the modified IWQI are consistent with that of the conventional WQI, which proves the accuracy of the modified IWQI as a surface water quality evaluation method.

Assessment of mass bathing event (Kumbh- 2019) impact on the river water quality by using multivariate analysis and water quality index (WQI) techniques at Sangam (Prayagraj), India.

This study evaluates the changes in the water quality of the River Ganga and the Yamuna due to the mass bathing events on the occasion of Kumbh-2019 at Sangam in Prayagraj district, Uttar Pradesh, India, by using multivariate statistical techniques and Water Quality Index (WQI). Water samples were collected from 15 locations and analyzed for 17 water quality parameters during the Kumbh-2019 period. The concentration of water quality parameters was used to estimate the WQI. A change in the value of WQI during the studied period was used to interpret the effect of mass bathing. The result of the Analysis of variance (ANOVA) analysis indicates significant variation in the concentration of Electrical conductivity (EC), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), anions (HCO3−, Cl−, SO42−, PO43−, NO3−), H4SiO4 and Most Probable Number (MPN) count during Kumbh-2019 event. The concentration of water quality parameters COD, NH4+, NO3− and H4SiO4 showed an increase of 31%, 55%, 40%, and 16%, respectively, during the Kumbh-2019 period. The high MPN count (920 - >1800/100 ml) observed during the Kumbh period makes it unfit for drinking and bathing. The pH, COD, NH4, and MPN counts are primary factors contributing to the water quality index (WQI) during the Kumbh period. The WQI value observed during the Kumbh period was relatively higher and ranged between 59 and 132, indicating the degradation of water quality from very poor to unsuitable for drinking purposes during the Kumbh-2019.

TROPICAL REHABILITATION FOREST CONTROL ON WATER CHEMISTRY PATTERN IN BINTULU SARAWAK MALAYSIA

With rapid development in South East Asian countries, there is a risk of serious degradation of stream water quality in areas adjacent to developing city areas, where basic information on toxic heavy metals and acidic compounds (NO3- and SO42-) concentrations and spatiotemporal variation is still unknown in these areas. The concentrations of water quality parameters, major ions, and heavy metals were examined from selected stream in a rehabilitation forest near a developing city having petroleum refinery facility in Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysia. The concentrations of water quality parameters, major ions, and heavy metals were examined from twelve stream locations in a rehabilitation forest near a developing city with a petroleum refinery facility. Analyses suggested that there is no clear tendency that is detected in heavy metals and basic water properties (EC, DO, BOD, COD, alkalinity and pH) except for turbidity, total suspended solids, and major ion which were high during rainy seasons. Annual means of SO42-, NO3- and NH₄⁺ concentrations were 6.34, 1.05 and 0.24 mg/L. The concentration in K+, Mg2+, Na+ and Ca2+ were 0.61, 1.21, 2.82 and 1.12 mg/L during hot and rainy season. The mean concentration in almost all heavy metals (Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn) were less than 0.01 mg/L. The concentrations of water quality variables in all samples collected across the seasons except for turbidity found within the permissible limit by the WHO and NWQS for Malaysia. Rehabilitation forest might give a positive impact in preserving water quality especially for COD and major ions except SO42-.

Spatial and temporal variations in water quality of Todos Santos Bay, northwestern Baja California, Mexico

Coastal pollution levels in Todos Santos Bay (TSB) recreational beaches have increased in recent years due to the uncontrolled disposal of wastewater and pollutants to the coast by human activities (urbanization and tourism). In this work, the concentration of water quality parameters along the coast of TSB was evaluated from February 2012 to January 2013. Sampling was carried out at monthly intervals on 29 beach locations. Results showed that the maximum values of all parameters were always found close to the treated wastewater discharge area at Arroyo El Gallo station. Temporally, both nutrients and biochemical oxygen demand reached notably high levels in winter-spring and close to wastewater discharges. During summer, maximum counts of total coliforms and parasite eggs were detected close to wastewater discharges. Overall, our study provides a diagnostic approach on the spatiotemporal variability of water quality parameters for future studies along the coastal waters of TSB.

Retrieval of water quality parameters from hyperspectral images using a hybrid feedback deep factorization machine model

Environmental protection of water resources is of critical importance to daily life of human beings. In recent years, monitoring the variation of water quality using remote sensing techniques has become prevalent. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) based remote sensing techniques have been applied to quantitative retrieval of concentrations of water quality parameters including phosphorus, nitrogen, chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and chlorophyll a (Chl-a), successfully and efficiently. In this study, a novel method with deep factorization machine, spatial distribution pattern analysis, and probabilistic analysis engaged, named hybrid feedback deep factorization machine (HF-DFM), has been developed to quantitatively estimate concentrations of water quality parameters based on hyperspectral reflectance data on large scale effectively. Our proposed method is a unified model for quantifying concentrations of water quality parameters with an end to end structure, which integrates UAV based optical remote sensing techniques and deep learning to estimate concentrations of water quality parameters. Furthermore, our proposed model was applied to real-time quantitative monitoring the variation of water quality of Mazhou River, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. Finally, we evaluate the performance of proposed model on a real-world dataset in terms of root of mean squared error (RMSE), mean absolute percent error (MAPE), and coefficient of determination (R2). The experimental results show that our proposed model outperforms other state-of-the-art models with respect to RMSE, MAPE, and R2, where resulting MAPEs for quantifying all water quality parameters range from 8.78% to 12.36%, and resulting R2s range from 0.81 to 0.93. It can serve as a useful tool for decision makers in effectively monitoring water quality of urban rivers.

Variation of water quality parameters and correlation among them and fish catch per unit effort of the Tono Reservoir in Northern Ghana

Water quality is essential for fish survival and growth in reservoirs. However, little information is known about the water quality status and its relation with fish production in the Tono Reservoir. This study sought to assess water quality parameters and examine association among them as well as determine the correlation between the water quality parameters and fish catch per unit effort of the Tono Reservoir. A three-level stratified sampling was adopted and samples were collected on a monthly basis. Water quality parameters such as water level, temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, transparency, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, chloride, sulphate, phosphate-phosphorus, silica, nitrate-nitrogen, nitrite-nitrogen, chlorophyll-a, and fish catches were measured simultaneously from each of the three strata of the reservoir. The water quality parameters of the reservoir fell within the recommended range for fish production. Concentrations of water quality parameters for the riverine, transitional and lacustrine zones showed no significant difference (p > 0.05). Catch per unit effort correlated significantly positive with only chloride (r = 0.61, p < 0.05) attributable to fertilisers used on surrounding farm lands and carried by runoff or floods to the reservoir. The reservoir could be classified as mesotrophic based on chlorophyll-a concentration. It was recommended that the reservoir water quality should be monitored quarterly by the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development to ensure safe fish production.

Spatial dependency of groundwater quality in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria using semi-variogram models

Water quality is a worldwide concern especially water for human consumption. Regular monitoring and tools should be developed, to ensure continuous assessment of the level of concentration of chemical constituents prevalent in water. This will guide against health dangers and risks associated with water of low quality. The research focus on using semi-variogram models to measure the degree of spatial dependency of sampled boreholes for prediction of the concentration of water quality parameters at un-sampled locations because of the cumbersome nature of assessing the whole boreholes in Benin City. One hundred and ten (110) different domestic boreholes were systematically sampled and analyzed in laboratory for determination of the concentration of some chemical water quality parameters which include Electrical Conductivity (EC), Total Dissolve Solids (TDS), Bicarbonate (HCO3), Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), etc. Laboratory examination of boreholes water quality parameters were carried out in wet and dry seasons. Geographical locations of sampled boreholes were also determined. The obtained experimental results were utilized in investigating the spatial structure of the boreholes using semi-variogram models which include spherical, exponential, Gaussian etc. Exponential model was the most fitted model. The borehole water quality parameters exhibited high degree of spatial dependency in EC, TDS, HCO3, Na, K, Ca. Mg, Cl, P, and NO3 in both seasons with ratio &lt; 25% therefore, interpolation technique can be employed to produce spatial variation quality map of boreholes in Benin City as a monitoring technique to detect contamination or changes in water quality.

Analysis of Detergent Waste Absorption Using Water Spinach (Ipomoea aquatica)

This study aims to determine the absorption of water detergent waste using water spinach (ipomoea aquatica). This experimental study used a randomized block design. Water samples were planted with water plants according to the research design. Detergent concentrations were observed using the MBAS (Methylene Blue Active Substance) method. The results showed that water spinach was able to reduce the detergent concentration and improve the concentration of water quality parameters (DO, BOD, and COD). After the treatment of water kangkong, the ability to absorb detergent was seen with a decrease in detergent levels until day 28 of 54.17%. The highest detergent absorption on days 7 and 14.

Regional leachate discharge, monitoring and the associated riverine pollutants propagation model simulation of Sungai Sarawak in Malaysia

The Sarawak River also known as Sungai Sarawak serves as a vital water source for the residents in Kuching City and surrounding popular areas. Like many urban rivers elsewhere, Sungai Sarawak and its main tributaries are exposed to the potential pollution caused by leachate discharge and other pollutants. In order to preserve the cleaner water production, mundane sustainable water source as well as provide green environmental spots for tourist attraction, the water quality of the river needs to be continuously monitored to avoid or minimize potential unwanted water source contamination. The present work aims primarily to conduct a parametric study to predict the impact of leachate and other pollutants towards the water quality of Sungai Sarawak and its main tributaries. Relevant water quality parameters were selected as the indicators to assess the impacts of leachate discharges and other relevant pollutants by employing QUAL2K modelling system. The environmental parameters include DO, BOD, NH3-N, and total suspended solids (TSS) were evaluated. The simulation results illustrated the leachate discharge and other pollutants would not significantly deteriorate the water quality of Sungai Sarawak during normal operations (baseline situation). In the event of unwanted leakages, untreated and sudden release of leachate at Sungai Sarawak Kiri in normal riverine flow (Scenario #1) and low riverine flow (Scenario #2) would result in serious contamination of these rivers. High deterioration of Sungai Sarawak water quality also can be seen in Scenario #3 where the unwanted leakages or untreated and sudden release of leachate at the river mainstem with a low riverine flow which the concentrations of water quality parameters would degrade to Class III-V. The model also shows that three parameters that highly contributed to the deterioration of the baseline water quality based on Scenario #1, #2 and #3 which are BOD, NH3-N, and TSS. The BOD concentration increases by 270% in Scenario #1, 370% in Scenario #2 and 510% in Scenario #3. The NH3-N concentration increases by 390% in Scenario #1, 456% in Scenario #2 and 583% in Scenario #3. The TSS concentration also increases by 275% in Scenario #1, 367% increase in Scenario #2 and 385% in Scenario #3. This study recommends continuous monitoring, proper planning and, control of human activities to ensure that developments within the watershed do not contribute to the degradation of Sungai Sarawak water quality. The study also makes comparisons with other rivers elsewhere and comes up with recommendations in the effort to have more practical and implementable measures as a safety framework for Sungai Sarawak and its tributaries. Lastly, suitable advanced treatment systems such as industrial-scale hybrid membrane-microbial fuel cell systems are recommended for slow-to medium flow rate leachate-riverine treatment applications.

Impacts of a large invasive mammal on water quality in riparian ecosystems.

Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are a highly invasive species in many regions of the world and can act as ecosystem engineers in areas where they are established. In riparian ecosystems, wild pigs may affect water quality parameters and introduce fecal bacteria, although previous studies have reported conflicting results. We propose four conditions that we believe are needed for an accurate assessment of wild pig impacts on water quality and address each one in our study. Water samples were collected between May 2018 and June 2019 in riparian watersheds on a privately owned property in Alabama that was densely populated by wild pigs (treatment) and in watersheds at a nearby national forest without an established population. Samples were analyzed for concentrations of water quality parameters, such as anions and cations, dissolved oxygen, total suspended solids, N, dissolved organic C, and Escherichia coli and other fecal coliforms. An additional 38 samples were analyzed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction for swine fecal bacteroidetes. At treatment watersheds, specific conductivity and concentrations of organic N and C, SO4 2- , and Ca2+ were between 2 and 11 times that of reference watersheds. Escherichia coli values at treatment watersheds were 40 times reference watershed values. DNA from swine fecal bacteroidetes was detected in 70% of treatment samples and 0% of reference samples. Wild pigs are a threat to water quality in riparian areas, and our results indicate that it may be important to control populations upstream of major drinking water sources and recreational areas.

Determination of the amount of Sanitary Water Flow from Dams based on the Quality of Drinking Water: A Case Study, Taleghan River, Iran

Background: Given the crisis of water shortage and the industrial development in Iran, comprehensive water-resource management and planning to handle the water quality of the rivers are the critical issues to tackle with. The concentration of river pollutants is a function of both the quantity and quality of the river flow regime. In this regard, the construction of large dams leads to quantitative and qualitative changes in downstream rivers. These changes are effective in the health of the river water for uses such as drinking, agriculture, and industry. Therefore, in addition to the quantity of water needs of rivers, their quality needs to be also considered. Objectives: This study aimed to analyze issues related to the sanitary water flow of large dams. Our case study was the Taleghan River dam, Alborz Province, Iran, on which Taleghan reservoir was built to supply some part of the water needed by Greater Tehran, Iran. Methods: This study examined a 22-km long section of the river at the riffle of Taleghan Dam in Alborz Province (103 km from Karaj), Iran. The average annual and monthly discharges of the river in four 6-km-apart stations were estimated. The statistics of eight hydrometric stations and a discharge-surface method were used to calculate the average annual discharge of each sub-basin downstream of Taleghan Dam. Moreover, the discharge non-dimensionalization method, along with the observational statistics of the index station, was used to calculate the average monthly discharge in the examined stations. The Hydrologic Engineering Centers River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) software (version 4.0) was then utilized to determine the values ​​of river flow rates hydraulically. Additionally, water quality parameters were compared with the standard concentrations proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) for drinking-water quality to examine possible changes in pollutant concentrations during the study. Correlation and regression statistical tests in SPSS software (version 24) were then used to analyze the relationship between discharge and pollutant concentration. Results: The experimental equation of Q = 0.0372A0.8641 was obtained to estimate the discharge based on the sub-basins area using the discharge-surface method. The average annual discharge at stations 2, 3, and 4 (B, C, and D) were estimated at 1.39, 2.11, and 3.39 m3/s, respectively, using this equation. Subsequently, the average monthly discharges in the studied stations in September were calculated at 0.21, 0.29, and 0.46 m3/s, respectively. Afterward, the discharge was measured using HEC-RAS software (version 4.0) in the same month at 0.34, 0.44, 0, and 0.62 m3/s, respectively. The examination of water quality values from ​​among the 17 water quality parameters revealed that physicochemical elements, pH concentration, lead (Pb), and electrical conductivity were higher than the standard concentration of drinking water proposed by the WHO. Conclusion: A model was presented to estimate sanitary water flow by performing correlation tests and linear regression calculations between the river discharge at the dam downstream and the concentration of water quality parameters. According to the proposed model, the minimum flow of sanitary water was estimated at 1.82 m3/s to be considered to release from the dam in the driest month of the year. Therefore, the release of water as the minimum flow of sanitary water less than 1.82 m3/s was not allowed in any other month of the year.

Determination of the amount of Sanitary Water Flow from Dams based on the Quality of Drinking Water: A Case Study, Taleghan River, Iran

Introduction: Given the crisis of water shortage and the industrial development in Iran, comprehensive water-resource management, planning, and serious handling of water quality of the rivers in Iran are the critical issues to tackle with. The concentration of river pollutants is a function of both the quantity and quality of the river flow regime. In this regard, the construction of large dams leads to quantitative and qualitative changes in downstream rivers. These changes are effective in the health of the river environment for such uses as drinking, agriculture, and industry. Accordingly, it is essential to consider the quality of river water in addition to the amount of river water needs. Materials and Methods: This study examined a 22-km long section of the river at the riffle of Taleghan Dam in Alborz Province (103 km from Karaj), Iran. The average annual and monthly discharges of the river in four 6-km-apart stations were estimated. The statistics of eight hydrometric stations and a discharge-surface method were used to calculate the average annual discharge of each sub-basin downstream of Taleghan Dam. Moreover, the discharge non-dimensionalization method, along with the observational statistics of the index station, was used to calculate the average monthly discharge in the examined stations. The Hydrologic Engineering Centers River Analysis System (RAS-HEC) software was then utilized to determine the values ​​of river flow rates hydraulically. Additionally, water quality parameters were compared with the standard concentrations proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) for drinking-water quality to examine possible changes in pollutant concentrations during the study. Correlation and regression statistical tests in SPSS software (version 24) were then used to analyze the relationship between discharge and pollutant concentration. Results: The experimental equation of Q = 0.0372A0.8641 was obtained to estimate the discharge based on the sub-basins area using the discharge-surface method. The average annual discharge at stations 2, 3, and 4 (B, C, and D) were estimated at 1.39, 2.11, and 3.39 m3/s, respectively, using this equation. Subsequently, the average monthly discharges in the studied stations in September were calculated at 0.21, 0.29, and 0.46 m3/s, respectively. Afterward, the discharge was measured using HEC-RAS software in the same month at 0.34, 0.44, 0, and 0.62 m3/s, respectively. The examination of water quality values from ​​among the 17 water quality parameters revealed that physicochemical elements, pH concentration, lead (Pb), and electrical conductivity were higher than the standard concentration of drinking water proposed by the WHO. Conclusion: A model was presented to estimate sanitary water flow by performing correlation tests and linear regression calculations between the river discharge at the dam downstream and the concentration of water quality parameters. According to the proposed model, the minimum flow of sanitary water was estimated at 1.82 m3/s to be considered to release from the dam in the driest month of the year. Therefore, the release of water as the minimum flow of sanitary water less than 1.82 m3/s was not allowed in any other month of the year.