River Water Quality Improvement Research Articles

Evaluating the effectiveness of the pollutant discharge permit program in China: A case study of the Nenjiang River Basin

China is continually seeking to improve river water quality. Implemented in 1996, the total pollutant load control system (TPLCS) is a regulatory strategy to reduce total pollutant loads, under which a Pollutant Discharge Permit (PDP) program tracks and regulates nutrient inputs from point source polluters. While this has been promising, the input-response relationship between discharge permits and water quality targets is largely unclear – especially in China's large and complex river basins. In response, this study involved a quantitative analysis method to combine the water quality targets of the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011–2015) with allocated PDPs in the Nenjiang River Basin, China. We demonstrated our approach by applying the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to the Nenjiang River Basin for hydrological and water quality simulation. Ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) was used as the primary water quality indicator. Modelling indicated that only one control section in the wider river basin did not achieve the water quality target, suggesting that the TPLCS is largely effective. The framework should be applied in other basins to study the effectiveness of PDP policies, advise further updates to the TPLCS, and ultimately aim to achieve freshwater quality targets nationally.

The River Chief System and River Pollution Control in China: A Case Study of Foshan

The river chief system (RCS) has been innovatively implemented in Wuxi, China since 2007 for the eutrophication control of Tai Lake. In 2016, RCS was eventually promoted throughout China to reinforce river and lake protection. The success of this new river management system is generally attributed to collaboration, accountability, and differentiation effects. This research takes Foshan in the Pearl River Delta region as a case study to examine the feasibility and weaknesses in the implementation of the RCS. Prior to the formal adoption of RCS, a coordinating organization for river improvement undertaking was established in Foshan to overcome fragmentation in water management. Compared with this practice, the new RCS can strengthen the collaboration of administrative authorities and establish a considerably sophisticated and effective management structure. Emphasis on evaluation and accountability mechanisms guarantees that management goals can be achieved. However, similar to the previous one, the new system remains a temporary management practice and its outcomes depend partially on the commitment and capability of each river chief. The imperfect evaluation and accountability mechanism also weaken its long-term effectiveness in improving river water quality. Therefore, some corresponding policy instruments are needed to ensure that RCS can be implemented smoothly.

Multi-scale relationship between land use/land cover types and water quality in different pollution source areas in Fuxian Lake Basin.

The spatial-temporal evolution of land use and land cover (LULC) and its multi-scale impact on the water environment is becoming highly significant in the LULC research field. The current research results show that the more significant scale impact on LULC and water quality in the whole basin and the riparian buffer scale is unclear. A consensus has not been reached about the optimal spatial scale problem in the relationship between the LULC and water quality. The typical lake basin of the Fuxian Lake watershed was used as the research area and the scale relationship between the LULC and water quality was taken as the research object. High resolution remote sensing images, archival resources of surveying, mapping and geographic information, and the monitoring data of water quality were utilized as the main data sources. Remote sensing and Geometric Information Technology were applied. A multi-scale object random forest algorithm (MSORF) was used to raise the classification accuracy of the high resolution remote sensing images from 2005 to 2017 in the basin and the multi-scale relationship between the two was discussed using the Pearson correlation analysis method. From 2005 to 2017, the water quality indicators (Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Phosphorous (TP), Total Nitrogen (TN)) of nine rivers in the lake’s basin and the Fuxian Lake center were used as response variables and the LULC type in the basin was interpreted as the explanation variable. The stepwise selection method was used to establish a relationship model for the water quality of the water entering the lake and the significance of the LULC type was established at p < 0.05.The results show that in the seven spatial scales, including the whole watershed, sub-basin, and the riparian buffer zone (100 m, 300 m, 500 m, 700 m, and 1,000 m): (1) whether it is in the whole basin or buffer zone of different pollution source areas, impervious surface area (ISA), or other land and is positively correlated with the water quality and promotes it; (2) forestry and grass cover is another important factor and is negatively correlated with water quality; (3) cropping land is not a major factor explaining the decline in water quality; (4) the 300 m buffer zone of the river is the strongest spatial scale for the LULC type to affect the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD). Reasonable planning for the proportion of land types in the riparian zone and control over the development of urban land in the river basin is necessary for the improvement of the urban river water quality. Some studies have found that the relationship between LULC and water quality in the 100 m buffer zone is more significant than the whole basin scale. While our study is consistent with the results of research conducted by relevant scholars in Aibi Lake in Xinjiang, and Erhai and Fuxian Lakes in Yunnan. Thus, it may be inferred that for the plateau lake basin, the 300 m riparian buffer is the strongest spatial scale for the LULC type to affect COD.

Program Revitalisasi Sungai Citarum; Sebuah Analisis Strength, Weakness, Advocates, Advesaries (SWAA)

Citarum is the longest and biggest river in West Java, also known as the world’s most polluted river. The pollution is due to social and economic burden carried out by the river, as well as supporting millions inhabitant living along the river. The social-economic-activities in this most populated province of Indonesia led to the change of land function into housing and industrial activities. Deforestation in the headwaters added to the river damaged. The environment degradation in Citarum has been taking place since the 1980’s, when rapid industrialization activities started in the southern parts of Bandung that led to build ups of factory waste. Most factories thrown pollutants directly to the river without using waste water processing installation plant. Various programs to improve river water quality and environmental management have no results because they are not supported by changes in community behavior. Even though various programs have been carried out with large financial support from the government and international institutions, the revitalization and restoration program do not bring significant results. This paper aims to analyze the program by reviewing the role of government, non-government and the public through the SWAA approach (Strength, Weakness, Advocates, Adversaries). The research method used was descriptive analysis, with primary and secondary data collection. Primary data collection is carried out through interviews with government, non-governmental organizations, and community members. The results of the research aimed at the government and stakeholders as input for managing environmental management programs that are more successful and have a direct impact to community.

Improving River Water Quality Using Ceramic Membranes from Clay and Zeolites

This study aims to determine the effect of the composition of the material & size of clay and zeolite which has been active as the formation of ceramic membranes against the values of TDS, Turbidity, Fe & Mn, pH and Flux. Then this study determines the optimum results of water treatment membranes from these variations. This study uses a treatment method on membrane size and analyses river water samples. Data analysis used a Complete Randomized Block Design (RAKL) and focused on a simple water filtration process. Variations in the size of raw materials of natural zeolite 50/60, 60/80 and 80/100 mesh which have been activated with Sulphate Acid Concentration of 1 N. Water samples originated from the Krueng Pasee river in North Aceh. Total membrane weight of 700 grams. Variations in this study clay mass: natural zeolite 90%: 10%, 80%: 20%, 70%: 30%, 60%: 40%, & 50%: 50%. The results for pH parameters with membrane filtration obtained pH in accordance with the standard qualifications of drinking water group A, after filtering has increased. For the TDS, Turbidity, Fe & Mn parameters, the analyzed concentration decreases. The best comparison is 50% TL: 50% ZA & size 50/60 mesh for the flux test.

Household-based biodigesters promote reduction of enteric virus and bacteria in vulnerable and poverty rural area

The present study evaluated the river water quality improvement by implementation of household-based biodigesters in vulnerability and poverty rural area, in Minas Gerais State-Brazil. For that, 78 household-based biodigesters were installed for domestic wastewater treatment. Wastewater was collected before and after treatment and the physicochemical parameters and pathogens removal (human adenovirus (HAdV), hepatitis A (HAV) virus, Salmonella sp. and Escherichia coli) were evaluated; Additionally, river water was sampled before and after the household-based biodigesters implementation, to verify the contamination reduction and the positive impact of domestic wastewater treatment on waterborne pathogen reduction, considering HAdV, HAV, Salmonella sp. and E. coli quantification. The applicability in real-scale of decentralized treatment systems using household-based biodigesters promoted reduction of 90, 99, 99.99 and 99.999% from HAV, Salmonella sp., E. coli and HAdV from domestic wastewater, respectively; The river water quality improvement before the wastewater treatment application was highlight in the present study, considering that the reduction of waterborne pathogens in this water in 90, 99.99 and 99.999% of E. coli, HAV and HAdV, respectively (Salmonella sp. was not detected in river water). In general, this is an important study for encouraging the decentralized sanitation in vulnerable and poverty area, as well in rural sites, considering the positive impact of this implementation on public health.

Research Progress in Water Quality Improvement

Rivers play an important role in flood control, sewage discharge, ecology, and so on. However, the intensification of water pollution leads to the river water quality to gradually decline, and pollution control cannot be delayed. This article analyzes the water environment from water quality improvement method. The water pollution treatment and improvement are analyzed and it points out the advantages and disadvantages from physics, chemistry and biology. The article also combs and summarize the issues and development trends in the river water quality improvement method in order to provide scientific reference for the improvement water quality assessment and comprehensive treatment of water pollution of rivers.

Assessment of spatiotemporal variations in river water quality for sustainable environmental and recreational management in the highly urbanized Danshui River basin.

Rivers are an important urban resource, and water quality influences the use of river water. Thus, analyzing spatiotemporal variations in river water quality is crucial for sustainable use and management of water resources in a highly urbanized region. This study employed river pollution index (RPI) data obtained in 2013 to assess spatiotemporal variations in river water quality for sustainable environmental and recreational management in the highly urbanized Danshui River basin. First, ordinary kriging was adopted to analyze monthly RPI distributions. Subsequently, different percentiles of monthly estimated RPI distributions were probabilistically determined at a river segment. Finally, three measurement methods of local uncertainty, namely-conditional variance, local entropy, and interquartile range-were used to characterize spatiotemporal variations in river water quality in the Danshui River basin. Assessment results revealed that more highly polluted river water quality resulted in higher seasonal variations. Moreover, high and very high seasonal variations were mainly concentrated in urban river segments, whereas low and very low seasonal variations were primarily located in upstream river segments. Thus, to achieve sustainable development goals, artificial wetlands should be established at downstream and midstream urban riverbanks and urban recreational activities should be developed in upstream riverbank parks in the Danshui River basin before the comprehensive improvement of river water quality.

Factors Influencing Participation Intention for Improving River Water Quality: An Empirical Evidence from Dhaka, Bangladesh

The improvement of river water quality has been recognized as a means of achieving successful river restoration that shows improved morphological, biota and ecological conditions. A better understanding of the factors that influence public participation in improving water quality can contribute to improvements in water management. The main aim of this study is to assess factors that influence public participation intention for improving river water quality in densely populated Dhaka city in Bangladesh. Through questionnaire surveys, this study examines Dhaka residents’ participation intention for improving the water quality of urban rivers. This research underpins societal relation to nature and value belief norm theory to elucidate the public preferences on participating program toward improving river water quality. The survey evidenced that the residents of Dhaka city showed a higher degree of preference for clean rivers, and pro-environmental attitudes could moderate the participation intention toward improving the water quality program. The results also indicate that perceived benefits have a strong role in persuading the resident’s preference over the improvement of river water quality. Moreover, the interviewees considered clean urban rivers to be predominantly useful for their healthy living. The possible implications can be the water managers and politicians consider these results as a significant input pertinent to ongoing public and political discussion about river restoration, whilst the societal relevance of river pollution and its improvement might be a key factor.

The Valuation of Water Quality: A Conceptual Framework for Households’ and Producers’ Willingness to Pay in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Restoring the freshwater ecosystems has drawn global attention, governmental and non-governmental organizations around the globe incorporating several strategies to revive the last remaining free-flowing rivers and other high priority freshwater ecosystems. Rivers in urban setting have social, economic and ecological importance and demise of such rivers might affect many of its inhabitant’s life and living which has been established, survived and flourished over the years. Often, restoration of the river ecosystem seems challenging to the policy makers because the river ecosystem services have no price tag. Improving water quality program requires precise information about the costs and benefits which in urban areas needs to incorporate an integrated approach that implement necessary societal and technical measures. This study provides a conceptual framework using both households’ and producers’ willingness to pay for the river water quality improvement to acquire maximum information for successful restoration program. This study provides useful information which may help for further improvement of the water quality in an alike problem of developing countries. Future studies should validate empirically the proposed research framework. Keywords: Urban River Restoration, Households’ WTP, Producers’ WTP, Conceptual Framework DOI: 10.7176/JESD/10-2-18

Water Quality Assessment Klang River Water Treatment Plants

The quality of Klang river water is deteriorating dramatically since it is in urban places every day and become one of the major problems. Therefore, the Malaysian government had initiated one river cleaning project named River of Life (ROL) project. This project is for rehabilitating and restoring the Klang river. A series of river water treatment plant (RWTP)s have been operated in Klang river catchment since 2014. Six RWTPs station has been monitored up to eight stations until presents. Eight parameters consisting of physio-chemical types and biological types have been recorded. RWTP effluent discharges are targeted to achieve Malaysia Interim National Water Quality Standard (INWQS) under Class II B. Since previous RWTP performance only emphasized on local river pollutants and certain conditions, this paper will investigate the effectiveness of full-scale RWTP unit process for river condition. Water quality assessment are involved which are consist of effluent water quality monitoring and pollutant removal efficiency. Most of the major pollutants able to be reduced by more than 50% reduction. Although BOD and AN still not able to achieve standard range gazetted by INWQS Class IIB, there is an improvement of river water quality at Klang River by using IFAS technology adopted in the RWTP system.

Potention of Active Charcoal from Musa Paradisiaca and Manihot Utilissima Shell in Degrading River Contamination

River water is one of type water surface which is a lot of finding in South Kalimantan. Generally, this water used by the citizen for cooking and bathing. But along with era growth, this river becomes as disposal of various industrial waste. The contamination of heavy metal like Fe, Mn, Pb, Cd, and turbidity enhance progressively and degrade the water quality. Some natural substance which can be used to improve river water quality is active charcoal from Musa paradisiaca and Manihot utilissima shell which is easy to get. Target research is determined to find optimum dose of active charcoal from Musa paradisiaca and Manihot utilissima shell that capable to degrade heavy metal contamination and turbidity in water river. It used experimentally with pretest and post-test with control group design. A result of research showed the optimum dose of active charcoal Musa paradisiaca shell was 15 gram , it could absorb Pb 28,8% and Mn 24,6%, but 10 gram can degrade turbidity until 83,8 %, while the optimum dose of Manihot utilissima shell to 25,4% Pb and degraded 77,5% of turbidity was 15 gram. Statistical test result with Kruskal Wallis got the p-value less than 0,05 it meant there was a difference between the treatment of active charcoal from Musa paradisiaca and Manihot utilissima shell in degrading the contamination. A conclusion is those active charcoal having a potential to enhance the water river quality. Suggested to use another activator to the potential like stirring, time of contact and the different mass.

New river constructed wetlands: How many are enough to cleanse the Salton Sea?

The New River is considered one of the most polluted waterways in the United States. It originates 20 miles south of the Mexico-United States border and flows through agricultural valleys as well as the city of Mexicali, terminating in the Salton Sea, 67 river miles north of the border. Salton Sea has no outlet, so that the water leaves only through evaporation, leaving its carrying load of salts, nutrients, heavy metals and contaminants to increase in concentration over time.In 2001, two pilot wetlands were constructed along the banks of New River within the Imperial Valley, USA, to test the feasibility of using natural methods to remove contaminants before they could reach the sea. This paper analyzes wetlands’ data collected over time to produce a model for seasonal variations in its effectiveness, and then uses this information to estimate improvement in river water quality as a function of the number of wetlands along its banks.

Influence of Land Use and Point Source Pollution on Water Quality in a Developed Region: A Case Study in Shunde, China.

To design and implement policy to manage water quality, it is important to investigate land use and possible sources of pollution. In this study, using Pearson regression analysis, redundancy analysis and multiple regression analysis, we assess the influence of land use and point sources on water quality in the river system in Shunde district in 2000 and 2010. The results show that water quality was related positively with water surface but negatively with impervious and urban greening area. Additionally, water quality was related negatively to point source emissions of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonium-nitrogen (NH4-N). The total explanatory power of spatial variation of water quality was improved from 43.4% to 60.0% in 2000 and from 31.3% to 57.8% in 2010, respectively, when the influence of point sources was added into redundancy analysis between water quality and land use. Thus, both land use management and point source pollution control should be considered for improving river water quality.

Method of Improving the Water Quality of Polluted Rivers Based on the MIKE11 Model

In order to seek ways to improve the quality of polluted rivers, this study selected the heavily polluted Yinghe River in China for study, as there is a requirement to improve water quality from the Yangtze River to the Yinghe River. The permanganate index and ammonia nitrogen are the main pollutant targets for the Yinghe River. This study applies MIKE11 to set up a one-dimensional model of the hydrodynamics and water quality using a numerical simulation method to determine the optimal method for river water quality improvement. The simulation experiment tests the influence of factors, such as the supplementary water flow, replenishment water quality, water replenishment position, and method of water supply to improve the water quality. The simulation results indicate that water quality improvement can be simulated with the hydrodynamic module (HD) and the convective diffusion module (AD) combined with the rainfall runoff module (NAM) in the MIKE11 model. In practice, the option with the best replenishment effect is to use class Ⅲ at point 1 and to use class Ⅳ at points 2 and 3 when the supplementary water flow rate is 10% of the river bottom flow. The reduction in permanganate index and ammonia nitrogen was, respectively, 72.3% and 55.7%, and over 85% of the study area reached the standard of class Ⅳ water quality. This provides a new method for river pollution control.

Nitrite-dependent methane-oxidizing bacteria seasonally and spatially shift in a constructed wetland used for treating river water

Nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation (n-damo) process, performed by “Candidatus Methylomirabilis oxyfera” (M. oxyfera), can be an important methane sink in wetland anoxic layers. However, little is known about the distribution and variability of M. oxyfera-like bacteria in constructed wetlands (CWs). The current study investigated spatial and seasonal dynamics of M. oxyfera-like bacteria in a free water surface flow CW (FWSF-CW) used to improve river water quality and explored the influences of wetland environmental variables. In the FWSF-CW, M. oxyfera-like bacterial abundance was found to change considerably among both sampling sites and seasons, ranged between 8.99×105 and 4.34×106 16S rRNA gene copies per gram dry sediment/soil. Considerable spatial and seasonal variations of M. oxyfera-like bacterial richness, diversity, and community structure were also observed in the FWSF-CW. In addition, both nutrients and temperature were the key factors determining the community structure of wetland M. oxyfera-like bacteria.

Improving river water quality monitoring using satellite data products and a genetic algorithm processing approach

Abstract Adequate river quality monitoring is of major importance for riverine environmental sustainability. This study develops a methodology for real-time water quality measurement in a river at 30 m spatial and 1 day temporal scales using the satellite remote sensing technique to support daily water quality monitoring usually done at gauges. Considering the limited spatio-temporal resolutions of all the current satellite products, this study integrates the corrected band-specific Landsat and Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) surface reflectance values, identified by a physically-based approach, with the observed pollutant concentrations. A combination of regression analysis and genetic algorithm (GA) based multivariate nonlinear formulations among the Landsat versus MODIS surface reflectances and Landsat surface reflectance versus in-situ pollutant concentration is used to estimate eight water quality parameters. All the possible combinations of the Landsat and MODIS satellite bands containing the spectral signature of pollutants are selected as independent variables. Linear and nonlinear regression analysis is carried out for these combinations using the SPSS software to get the best (significant) correlated relations which are, further, enhanced using the GA. This formulation is applied and tested in the Brahmani River located in eastern India’s Odisha state for its real-time application; and water quality mapping is carried out for a typical river reach of the Brahmani River. A Monte-Carlo simulation based uncertainty and sensitivity analysis of the used algorithms reveal that the methods have the potential to be used in ungauged river reaches.

Biomarkers and bioindicators of the environmental condition using a fish species (Pimelodus maculatus Lacepède, 1803) in a tropical reservoir in Southeastern Brazil.

The Funil Reservoir receives a large amount of xenobiotics from the Paraíba do Sul River (PSR) from large number of industries and municipalities in the watershed. This study aimed to assess environmental quality along the longitudinal profile of the Paraíba do Sul River-Funil Reservoir system, by using biomarkers and bioindicators in a selected fish species. The raised hypothesis is that Funil Reservoir acts as a filter for the xenobiotics of the PSR waters, improving river water quality downstream the dam. Two biomarkers, the ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity (EROD), measured as fluorimetricly in S9 hepatic fraction, and the micronuclei frequency (MN), observed in erythrocytes of the cytoplasm, and three bioindicators, the hepatosomatic index (HSI), gonadosomatic index (GSI) and condition factor (CF) were used in Pimelodus maculatus, a fish species widely distributed in the system. Four zones were searched through a longitudinal gradient: 1, river upstream from the reservoir; 2, upper reservoir; 3, lower reservoir; 4, river downstream of the reservoir. EROD activity and HSI and GSI had significant differences among the zones (P<0.05). The upper reservoir had the lowest EROD activity and HSI, whereas the river downstream of the reservoir had the highest EROD and lowest GSI. The river upstream from the reservoir showed the highest HSI and GSI. It is suggested that the lowest environmental condition occur at the river downstream of the reservoir, where it seems to occur more influence of xenobiotics, which could be associated with hydroelectric plant operation. The hypothesis that Funil reservoir acts as a filter decanting pollution from the Paraíba do Sul River waters was rejected. These results are novel information on this subject for a native fish species and could be useful for future comparisons with other environments.

Edaphic Conditions Regulate Denitrification Directly and Indirectly by Altering Denitrifier Abundance in Wetlands along the Han River, China.

Riparian wetlands play a critical role in retaining nitrogen (N) from upland runoff and improving river water quality, mainly through biological processes such as soil denitrification. However, the relative contribution of abiotic and biotic factors to riparian denitrification capacity remains elusive. Here we report the spatiotemporal dynamics of potential and unamended soil denitrification rates in 20 wetlands along the Han River, an important water source in central China. We also quantified the abundance of soil denitrifying microorganisms using nirK and nirS genes. Results showed that soil denitrification rates were significantly different between riparian and reservoir shoreline wetlands, but not between mountain and lowland wetlands. In addition, soil denitrification rates showed strong seasonality, with higher values in August (summer) and April (spring) but lower values in January (winter). The potential and unamended denitrification rates were positively correlated with edaphic conditions (moisture and carbon concentration), denitrifier abundance, and plant species richness. Path analysis further revealed that edaphic conditions could regulate denitrification rates both directly and indirectly through their effects on denitrifier abundance. Our findings highlight that not only environmental factors, but also biotic factors including denitrifying microorganisms and standing vegetation, play an important role in regulating denitrification rate and N removal capacity in riparian wetlands.

Phytostabilization of metals by indigenous riparian vegetation

Given the increasing pressure of man-made activities on riparian zones, the capacity of the riparian vegetation along the Upper Olifants River, South Africa, to phytoextract and phytostabilize aluminium (Al), manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe) from the soil was investigated. The aim of the study was to gain better understanding of the capacity of indigenous vegetation in riparian zones to immobilize metals in the soil, thereby improving river water quality and ecosystem services. Seven commonly-occurring pollution-tolerant riparian plant species were evaluated to establish their potential as bioaccumulators for Fe, Al and Mn. Species included: Cyperus haspan, Schoenoplectus corymbosus, Typha capensis, Phragmites australis, Cynodon dactylon, Cyperus marginatus and Juncus effusus, which were sampled in five riparian areas in the Upper Olifants catchment. The bioconcentration factor (BCF) for Mn was &gt; 1 for all species investigated with a maximum of 5 for Typha capensis, which also showed the highest accumulation of Al (10.26) and Fe (7.03). The remaining species presented with Al and Fe BCF between 0.11 and 2.00, with minimal transfer from root to shoot. When measured against an ideal hypothetical buffer zone, the buffer zones under investigation varied between intact and severely compromised. Intact riparian zones showed elevated metal concentrations in the soil, yet significantly lower concentrations in the river water compared to areas with insufficient vegetative cover. A polluted riparian area overgrown by P. australis effectively phytoextracted 204 960 g/m2 Al, 204 400 g/m2 Fe and 27 887 g/m2 Mn. The two indigenous Cyperus spp. were not ideal for metal immobilization with low bioaccumulation and transfer factors as well as low biomass. High biomass and Al, Fe and Mn phytostabilizing species: P. australis, T. capensis, S. corymbosus and J. effusus, should be considered in the rehabilitation of South African buffer areas.Keywords: riparian vegetation, heavy metals, acid mine drainage, phytostabilization, bioaccumulation