River Water Quality Research Articles

Elemental Profiling with Reference to Metal Index to Study Pollutant Load in Northern River of India

Present light was to determine elemental load in Sirsa river ecosystem to know the concentration of toxicants in this Sutlej river’s tributary that act as a gutter for industrial effluents of Baddi region. The inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy was used to detect concentration of elements in the department of biochemical engineering and biotechnology at IIT Delhi and the collected data was further analyzed statistically using one way ANOVA at (p≤0.05) followed by post hoc Duncan’s test to predict degree of variations and comparative profile in Table 1. The application of metal index was also performed to estimate water quality and co-related it with health hazards. Variations in concentration of elements was reported near common effluent treatment plant on pollutant Nallah (S2) in deceasing order read as Mg>Na>Ca>B>Zn>Cu>Mn>Fe>Mo>Al>Tl>Se in ppb. The concentration of elements reported at S1, S2, S3 were within permissible limit of WHO and Bureau of Indian Standards, except the value of Boron, Magnesium and Thallium were exceeded these guidelines constantly at site S2 of study area.The metal index values at S1, S2 and S3 were 1.55, 5.80 and 2.57 respectively. The site S2 was affected strongly due to presence of elemental dust and un-treated waste water discharged by chemical industrial units of Baddi region. This site (S2) was nearer to common effluent treatment plant on the bank of Sirsa river and found to be unsuitable at all with more value of metal index. It was also viewed to adopt such scale indices to estimate drinking water quality with respect to concentration of elements after equal interval of time; as there may be seasonal change in the load of debris due to rate of pollutants dumping in the riverine ecosystem which is directly proportional to the content of elements. The load of pollutants in water system was underlined to know the impact of inorganic waste discharges on water quality of river in this region of Himachal Pradesh along industrial belt.

Environmental Study in Assessing the Water Quality of the Al-Gharraf River for Agricultural Purposes

Environmental Study in Assessing the Water Quality of the Al-Gharraf River for Agricultural Purposes

Insight into Urban River Water Quality Using Ecological Risk Assessment Based on Risk Quotient

Insight into Urban River Water Quality Using Ecological Risk Assessment Based on Risk Quotient

Crucial time of emergency monitoring for reliable numerical pollution source identification

The Pollution source identification (PSI) is an important issue on river water quality management especially for urban receiving water. Numerical inversion method is theoretically an effective PSI technique, which employs monitored downstream pollutant breakthrough curves to identify the pollution source. In practice, it is important to know how much monitoring data should be accumulated to provide PSI results with acceptable accuracy and uncertainty. However, no literature reports on this key point and it seriously handers the numerical PSI technology to mature practical applications. To seek a monitoring guideline for PSI, we conducted extensively numerical experiments for single-point source instantaneous release taking Bayesian-MCMC method as the baseline inversion technique. The crucial time (Tc) phenomenon was found during the data accumulation process for Bayesian source inversion. After Tc, estimated source parameters subsequent sustained low error levels and uncertainty convergence. Results shown the presence of Tc impacted by the number and location of monitoring sections, while monitoring frequency and data error do not. Under different river hydrodynamic conditions, relative crucial time (Λ) is determined by the river's Peclet number, and minimum effective Λ was controlled by dispersion coefficient (Dx). Analytic spatial structure of Λ(U, Dx) was uncovered and this relationship successfully explained by the information entropy theory. Based on these findings, a novel design method of PSI emergency monitoring network for preparedness plan and a practical framework of PSI for emergency response were established. These findings fill the important knowledge gap in PSI applications and the guidelines provide valuable references for river water quality management.

Correction to: Mitigating the adverse impacts of climate change on river water quality through adaptation strategies: A Case Study of the Ardak Catchment, Northeast Iran

Correction to: Mitigating the adverse impacts of climate change on river water quality through adaptation strategies: A Case Study of the Ardak Catchment, Northeast Iran

Water quality assessment of Dudhganga river using water quality index and anthropogenic activities

ABSTRACT The primary goal of this study is to analyze the magnitude of water quality of Dudhganga River seasonally and temporal using physico-chemical parameters, Weighted Arithmetic Water Quality Index (WA-WQI) and anthropogenic activities of Kolhapur District, Maharashtra. Six sampling locations along the Dudhganga River (sites I to VI) were selected for sampling and analysis. In seasonal analysis, the higher values of water parameters like pH (8.2), TDS (0.42 μs/cm), turbidity (0.14 NTU), DO (6.24 mg/l), nitrate (7.56 mg/l) and phosphate (1.78mg/l) were reported in monsoon season. Temperature, Alkalinity and hardness were noted maximum values (25 °C, 66.67 mg/l and 12.67 mg/l) during summer season. However, EC was reported maximum (64 μs/cm) in winter season. Results of WA-WQI revealed that water quality index ranged from 14.90 to 24.26 all sampling sites. The values of WA-WQI were reported higher at downstream locations like IV, V, and VI, than the upstream sites I, II, and III. Along Dudhganga River substantial various human activities were significant contributor for declining the water quality of River. The acquired results suggest that water quality status is close to becoming contaminated and unsafe for domestic and human use. Such contaminated water also poses risk to plants and animals that make up the aquatic ecosystem.

Characteristics of Water Environment and Its Influencing Factors in Zhari Namco Basin, Xizang

Zhari Namco is situated in the alpine grassland belt of northwestern Xizang with a fragile ecological environment. As the third-largest lake in Xizang, there has been a long-term lack of research data concerning its basin water environment. In an effort to elucidate the surface water environment characteristics of the basin and the factors influencing them, an extensive investigation was conducted from August 2021 to June 2022, encompassing periods of high flow, low flow, and base flow. Further, the study also involved comprehensive assessments of the water chemistry characteristics and spatial-temporal variation in lake sampling sites of the basin that were not significant by using mathematical statistics, hydrochemical analysis, correlation analysis, and principal component analysis. The findings revealed the following： ① The water in the Zhari Namco Basin exhibited an alkaline nature, with dominant ionic compositions in the lake comprising Na+, SO42-, and Cl-, whereas the rivers were primarily characterized by Ca2+, HCO3-, and SO42-. ② The main pollutants exceeding established standards included sulfates, arsenic, chlorides, and total phosphorus. The study identified significant spatiotemporal variations in water quality. Temporally, the exceedance of sulfates, arsenic, and total phosphorus was most pronounced during high-flow periods, followed by that during low-flow and base flow periods, with chloride levels showing less temporal variation. Spatially, river water quality surpassed that of the lakes, with arsenic, total phosphorus, TDS, sulfate, chloride, K+, and Na+ concentrations in lakes 1 to 2 orders of magnitude higher than those in rivers. Water qualities exceeding the established standard were primarily found in the lake, with less spatial variations within the lake itself. ③ Hydrochemical processes within the basin were found to be primarily influenced by natural phenomena, including evaporation-concentration and rock weathering. Various elements entered the lakes via surface runoff, where they continuously accumulated under the influence of evaporation-concentration processes, ultimately leading to exceedances. ④ Temporal variations in water quality were primarily attributed to increased elemental loss and intensified evaporation during high-flow periods. The spatial discrepancies in water quality were predominantly a consequence of the differing hydrodynamic conditions between flowing water bodies and enclosed water bodies.

Correction to: Risk assessment of river water quality using long-memory processes subject to divergence or Wasserstein uncertainty

Correction to: Risk assessment of river water quality using long-memory processes subject to divergence or Wasserstein uncertainty

Evaluating the spatiotemporal variation of Ba River water quality in the agricultural and urban watershed in the highland of Vietnam.

The Ba River in Vietnam has been facing pollution due to waste generation from agricultural and urban areas. This study focuses on evaluating the spatiotemporal variations in river water quality based on physicochemical characteristics and pesticide parameters for different seasons in 2022-2023. The results indicate that the concentrations of most parameters in the rainy season were higher than those in the early-dry and dry seasons due to the non-point sources in agricultural areas. Notably, the analysis of pesticide residue in both the rainy and dry seasons revealed low levels of chlorpyrifos (ethyl), and deltamethrin was detected in the only rainy season. The results from the hierarchical cluster analysis and water quality index show that the water quality at Ben Mong, An Khe, and Ba River Bridges was classified as moderately to highly polluted. These areas should focus on regular water quality monitoring and appropriate pollution source management. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Agriculture activities strongly affected the water quality of the Highland Ba River of Vietnam. Chlorpyrifos and deltamethrin pesticides (0.0074-0.0218 μg/L) were detected in Ba River. Non-point pollution sources significantly influenced water quality in the Ba River. Variations in river water quality mainly depend on seasons and locations. Water quality index values in rainy seasons (26-88) are lower than that in dry season (37-92).

Comparative analysis of water quality index and river classification in Kereh River, Penang, Malaysia: Impact of untreated swine wastewater from Kampung Selamat pig farms.

The Kereh River in Penang, Malaysia, has faced severe pollution for over 40 years due to untreated wastewater from swine farms in Kampung Selamat, discharged via stormwater drains. Despite official claims that all 77 swine farms treat their wastewater to meet regulatory standards, local non-governmental organizations and villagers have challenged this, though their concerns lack scientific backing. This study evaluates the river's water quality by analyzing samples from upstream (US), midstream (MS), and downstream (DS), and from Parit Cina-Parit Besar, a conduit for untreated swine wastewater. Fourteen parameters were measured against Malaysia's National Water Quality Standards (NWQS). Significant differences were found in six parameters: ammonium nitrogen (AN), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), dissolved oxygen (DO), total suspended solids (TSS), and oil and grease (OG). While Dunn's post hoc pairwise comparison showed no significant differences among river segments, mean values indicated increased pollution downstream, particularly after the convergence with untreated swine wastewater. River classification worsened, with water quality index dropping from 69.88 ± 11.37 score (Class III) US to 38.49 ± 12.74 and 50.44 ± 3.14 scores (Class IV) MS and downstream, respectively. A significant positive correlation between E. coli and AN (r = 0.71, p < 0.01) suggests a common point source pollutant, particularly the untreated swine wastewater. The river exhibits low oxygen levels and high organic matter and nutrient concentrations, especially MS and downstream, highlighting substantial ecological and public health risks. Effective enforcement of waste treatment regulations and enhanced monitoring are crucial for mitigating pollution and restoring the river's ecosystem. Collaboration between authorities and pig farmers is essential to improve water quality and maintain the river's ecological balance. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Severe Kereh River pollution: Untreated swine wastewater from Kampung Selamat pig farms, primarily via Parit Cina-Parit Besar, has degraded the river for over 40 years. Regulatory non-compliance: Despite official claims, untreated swine wastewater continues to pollute the river, challenging regulatory standards. Significant pollution indicators: Elevated levels of AN, BOD, COD, DO, TSS, OG, and E. coli signal severe pollution midstream and downstream. Water quality index drop: WQI scores classify midstream and downstream sections as polluted, indicating worsening conditions downstream. Urgent need for action: Enforcing regulations, improving wastewater treatment, and relocating pig farms are crucial for restoring the Kereh River.

Assessment of macrozoobenthic community dynamics in the Ijuk River: Implications for freshwater ecosystem health and conservation management

Background: Nestled within the Isau-Isau Wildlife Reserve, the Ijuk River stretches approximately 3 kilometers, serving as a vital conservation area. Its upstream region plays multiple ecological roles, including watershed management, hydrological regulation, microclimate control, soil fertility maintenance, microbial habitat provision, air quality regulation, and carbon sequestration. However, escalating human activities, particularly changes in land use, pose significant threats to its ecological balance. The particular concern is the conversion of forested areas into agricultural lands, primarily for coffee cultivation and mixed gardens, encroaching dangerously close to the riverbanks. This encroachment necessitates a critical reevaluation of the river's water quality, given its crucial role in supporting biodiversity and ecological equilibrium. Benthic insects dwelling in the riverbed serve as invaluable bioindicators, offering insights into the overall health of aquatic ecosystems. Methods: Conducted between January and July 2022 in the Isau-Isau Wildlife Refuge, Lawang Agung Village, Mulak Ulu District, Lahat Regency, the study aimed to assess the macrozoobenthic community structure across three river segments: upstream, midstream, and downstream. Employing field sampling, observational surveys, taxonomic identification, and data analysis, the research aimed to unravel the river's ecological dynamics. Findings: Through meticulous examination of benthic insect communities, the study revealed relatively favorable water quality in the Ijuk River. However, discernible declines in various ecological parameters, as evidenced by evaluation results, highlight the urgency of conservation efforts and proactive management strategies to mitigate further degradation and preserve the river's ecological integrity. Conclusion: Such endeavors are crucial for safeguarding the biodiversity and sustainability of this vital freshwater ecosystem. Novelty/Originality of this Study: The study uniquely assesses the macrozoobenthic community dynamics in the Ijuk River, revealing significant changes over two decades that highlight the river's ecological health and underscore the urgent need for conservation efforts. It offers a comprehensive, updated evaluation of the macrozoobenthic community structure, providing critical insights into the impacts of land use changes and human activities on freshwater ecosystems.

The role of land use on phosphorus release and longitudinal changes of pollution in an agricultural watershed, Bostankar river, Iran

Phosphorus in surface waters accelerate algal growth and eutrophication, considerably influencing water quality. Spatiotemporal changes in phosphorus concentration are crucial for environmental issues. We aimed to study the temporal and spatial changes in water quality in a river and in a drainage water system considering different land uses. To this aim, 15 water samples were collected from the origin of the river to the estuary, in the Bostankar River watershed (N-Iran), during spring and winter. Further samples were collected from agricultural drainage water in rice fields, tea, flower, orange as well as kiwi gardens, and forests during spring and winter. EC, pH, TDS, and three forms of phosphorus (total, particulate, and soluble) were measured in the water samples. The results showed that water quality changes in agricultural drainage water were time-dependent; the average total phosphorus was 0.4 mg l-1 lower in the spring than in the winter. The highest phosphorus concentration (1.29 mg l-1) occurred in the winter in the drainage water of the orange gardens. Temporal and spatial changes of the river showed that water quality reduced from the river upstream (jungles and grasslands) towards the downstream (different agricultural land uses), and the amount of phosphorus increased from 0.25 to 0.5 mg l− 1. The TDS increased from 60 to 220 mg l− 1 in the river in the winter. Finally, the results showed that human activities were the main factor in river water quality reduction due to agricultural activities.

Rancang Bangun SPK Kualitas Air Sungai Metode Fuzzy Tsukamoto (Studi Kasus: 4 Kecamatan Karawang)

Research reveals that the Citarum River in West Java is seriously polluted, causing problems for humans and the environment, so monitoring of river water quality is necessary. This research proposes the development of a web-based Decision Support System with the SDLC Waterfall model, using the Fuzzy Tsukamoto method based on seven water parameters (EC, TDS, Salinity, pH, ORP, SG, Temperature) to simplify the determination of water quality. This research uses the Research and Development methodology with the SDLC Waterfall model software development approach, which includes the stages of analyzing data requirements and fuzzy logic systems, designing system architecture and features, implementing technology and process results, functional manual testing and model accuracy, and maintenance in the form of documentation and storage. The results showed that the developed DSS can classify water quality based on 7 parameters with a value scale divided into five categories, namely Good, Poor, Medium, Good, and Very Good. Testing was conducted using data from 8 river points in 4 sub-districts in Karawang Regency on April 1, 2024. The accuracy of the DSS model reached 80%. The development of this DSS is expected to provide an initial overview of water quality in a location without requiring an in-depth technical understanding of the water parameters used. This data can also be an initial indicator to determine whether further action or further investigation is required. Suggestions for future research are to integrate the system with IoT to improve its performance and benefits.

Macroinvertebrates as a Bioindicator of Water Quality in the Jangkok River, Lombok Island

Rivers are water bodies in open ecosystems where activities in the environment have an impact on river water quality. Monitoring of water quality is necessary to preserve aquatic resources. One of the river basins on Lombok Island is the Jangkok River. This river has a high utility, so water quality monitoring is needed. Macroinvertebrates are one of the best biological indicators for water quality monitoring. The objective of this study is to determine the diversity of macroinvertebrates and the quality of Jangkok River waters by using macroinvertebrates as bioindicators so that the results of this study can be used as a reference basis for the future use of Jangkok River water in the allocation of community needs. The method used in this research is biomonitoring with macroinvertebrate bioindicators, and the technique used in sampling is purposive sampling. Sampling was conducted at three stations, namely the upstream, middle, and downstream parts of the Jangkok River. The data analysis used was the Family Biotic Index (FBI) supported by physical-chemical parameters. The results of this study showed that the macroinvertebrates identified were 721 individuals consisting of 5 classes, 17 orders, and 36 families. The water quality of the Jangkok River, based on the FBI value in the upstream and middle sections, is still included in the good category, while in the downstream section, it falls into the very bad category.

Real-time Water Quality Monitoring System using IoT: Application at Melaka River, Malaysia

The rapid development around the Malacca city has a huge impact on the environment. Among the effects that can be seen is water pollution along the Malacca River. To overcome the problem, Hydro Quality Monitoring System (HydroQS) has been built and is a co-developed product between Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) and Perbadanan Pembangunan Sungai dan Pantai Melaka (PPSPM). This device acts as one of the solutions to continuous monitoring the river water quality in real time values such as pH, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Total Dissolved Solid (TDS), Turbidity and Temperature via Arduino interface. Prior to conduct field test, the HydroQS will perform floating and sensors functionality test at laboratory environment. As a results, the HydroQS capable to float and the sensors able to capture the water quality data.

Evaluation of Seasonal Reservoir Water Treatment Processes in Southwest Florida: Protection of the Caloosahatchee River Estuary

In southwest Florida, the Caloosahatchee River flows from Lake Okeechobee into a biologically productive tidal estuarine system. A combination of excess water during the wet season, insufficient fresh water in the dry season, and poor quality of the river water are damaging the estuarine ecosystem. To better control the quality and quantity of the water entering the estuary, reservoirs are being constructed to store excess, poor quality water during the wet season and return it to the river for discharge into the estuary at an appropriate time. This stored water is enriched in nutrients and organic carbon. Because of the subtropical nature of the climate in southwest Florida and potential increases in temperature in the future, the return flow of water from the reservoirs must be treated before it can be returned to the river. Hence, an experimental water treatment system was developed and operated to compare biological treatment processes consisting of solely wetland plants versus adding some engineered processes, including slow sand filtration and a combination of slow sand filtration and ultraviolet (UV) treatment. These three treatment trains were operated and monitored through a seasonal cycle in 2021–2022. All three treatment methods significantly reduced the concentrations of nutrients and total organic carbon. While the enhanced engineered wetlands’ treatment trains did slightly outperform the wetland train, a comparison of the three process trains showed no statistically significant difference. It was concluded that upscaling of the slow sand filtration and UV process could improve the treatment efficiency, but this change would have to be evaluated within a framework of long-term economic benefits. It was also concluded that the Caloosahatchee River water quality is quite enriched in nutrients so that reservoir storage would increase the organic carbon concentrations, making it imperative that it be treated before being returned to the river. It was also discovered that the green alga Cladophora sp. grew rapidly in the biological treatment tubs and will present a significant challenge for the treatment of the reservoir discharge water using the currently proposed alum treatment.

Balancing river water pollution and agricultural development: A tradeoff threshold approach

Balancing environmental protection and social-economic development in agricultural land use management is a dilemma for decision-makers. Based on the modelling of the impacts of land use changes on river water pollution by SWAT model, the tradeoff between tea plantation expansion and river water quality was detected. SWAT model performs well in simulating the non-point source (NPS) pollution in agricultural watershed. The results showed that the tea plantation area expanded dramatically from 44 km2 in 2000 to 169 km2 in 2020 at the high cost of forest land. Consequently, the mean contents of NO3−-N and TN have significantly increased by 100% and 91% respectively in the past 20 years. And the NO3−-N in river water accounted for over 80% of TN in the tea plantation area. The NO3−-N and TN concentrations were positively related with the proportions of tea plantation area (Tea%) at different periods. The high pollution levels of NO3−-N and TN are priority control targets for river water quality management. The results indicated that the proportion of tea plantation thresholds lead to abrupt changes in river water quality. When the Tea% exceeded 3.0% in 2000, the probability of N pollution increased sharply. Whereas in 2020, it is suggested that the Tea% should not exceeds 18% to avoid sudden deterioration of water quality. The critical interval value of the Tea% for sudden change in N pollution showed an obvious increase tendency. The accelerating of nutrient pollution in rivers reduced the sensitivity of water quality to tea plantation expansion. Our results can provide new insights and empirical evidence for balancing the tradeoff between agricultural development and river water quality protection by demonstrating the carrying capacity threshold of river water environment for the expansion tea plantation.

Evaluating the Effects of Parameter Uncertainty on River Water Quality Predictions

Evaluating the Effects of Parameter Uncertainty on River Water Quality Predictions

The Impact of Sewage Water Overflow (SWO): An Analysis of Zandspruit River in Cosmo City, Johannesburg, South Africa

Cosmo City, situated in Johannesburg, Gauteng, has been experiencing sewage water overflows (SWO) for several years, and this raises concerns about the water quality of Zandspruit River. The study aimed to investigate the impacts of SWO on the Zandspruit River, and the perceptions of the community towards SWO. Water samples were collected from three sampling sites of Zandspruit River. Some water quality parameters were measured in the field using a multi-parameter water quality meter while other parameters were analyzed at a SANAS accredited laboratory. Results were compared with South African water quality guidelines and most water quality parameters were within permissible set standards. However, COD, E. coli and turbidity were above permissible set standards which indicates a highly polluted river. Furthermore, we assessed perceptions of the Cosmo City community towards SWO through questionnaires. The community ascribed the main causes of SWOs to population growth, blocked, and broken sewers. This study revealed that SWO around Cosmo City has a negative impact on the quality of river water and poses health risks. The combined evidence from both the experimental analysis and the community perception survey underscores the urgent need for effective management strategies to address the negative environmental and human health implications of SWO in the Zandspruit River. By integrating these findings and considering the broader implications of pollution on both the ecosystem and community well-being, policymakers and stakeholders can work towards implementing sustainable solutions to mitigate the risks associated with sewage water overflows.

Self-purification in tropical upland rivers as affected by environmental factors: the case of Balili River in Benguet, Philippines

A major data gap in tropical river ecology is the limited documentation of natural water purification of upstream rivers. This study documented the improvement of water quality of downstream Balili River as affected by environmental factors and macrophyte diversity using a mixed-method approach (water quality assessment, plant inventory, field observation, canonical correspondence analysis, community interview). Results showed that the distance from pollution plays a significant role in the self-purification of the river while the floral diversity maintains the riparian from further contaminating the water and at the same time absorbing air pollutants. Generally, the pollution reduction and %change is exponential at 2 and 3 km from point source then taper at 4 and 5 km. At 3 km from the point source, 30% improvement in TDS, BOD and salinity, 25% for EC, 20% in TSS, 35% in WQI, 36% in CPI, and 50% for DO were noted. Key factors that influence the self-purification process in the river were distance from pollution source, elevation, human disturbance (as indicated by %tree canopy) and temperature. These findings highlight the importance of distance from pollution sources and floral diversity in driving water quality improvements, with implications for sustainable water resource management in tropical regions.