Water Quality Improvement Project Research Articles

Water quality improvement project for initial rainwater pollution and its performance evaluation

Efficiently addressing initial rainwater pollution is crucial for mitigating urban water pollution. However, the performance evaluation of initial rainwater pollution control project is rarely introduced. In this study, the architecture of effective comprehensive engineering measures for improving the water quality of initial rainwater in Anhui Province, China, was described. Three water quality indicators, ammonia nitrogen (NH3–N), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and total phosphorus (TP), were selected to explore the severity of urban pollution caused by initial rainwater under various rainfall scenarios. A single-factor evaluation method was used to contrast and assess the benefits of the initial rainfall interception project in terms of water quality enhancement. Results showed that initial rainfall pollution was gentler under light rainfall conditions but more prominent under moderate and heavy conditions. The percentages of NH3–N, COD, and TP in Lotus Pond that met the tertiary drinking water standard were 100%, 74.91%, and 100% with great improvement, and the average concentrations of NH3–N, COD, and TP in Fushan Road Drainage have decreased by 91.43%, 10.49%, and 57.33% respectively, after the construction of the interception project. These indicated that the nitrogen and phosphorus pollution were successfully controlled by the control techniques in both locations, but COD concentration has to be addressed with more specialized strategies. Overall, the water quality improvement project for initial rainwater pollution plays a great role in effectively governing initial rainwater pollution and improving river water quality, and provides an effective technical reference for urban water ecological environment management.

Mesocosm studies clarify effects of external and internal phosphorus (P) loads to treatment wetlands at lower limits of P removal

This study evaluates wetland phosphorus (P) removal where P concentrations can be extremely low (∼20 μg/L or less). Stormwater Treatment Area (STAs) are large water quality improvement projects constructed for Everglades restoration, where research is underway to understand the processes that control P removal at already low P concentrations, particularly in the lower reaches of the flow-ways, upstream of the discharge structures. One concept that is being researched consists of scraping the P-enriched muck soil from the discharge region of STAs to expose the underlying limerock (LR) substrate. This has been investigated in numerous subscale platforms and results in proliferation of periphyton and submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) communities. In principle, it also reduces internal P loads to the water column, although this point has lacked direct data support. One 40-ha field-scale periphyton-based STA (PSTA) cell has operated since 2008 and has regularly reduced ∼15 μg/L inflow TP to ∼10 μg/L (long-term flow-weighted means). This study documents two mesocosm experiments aimed at better understanding PSTA systems. The first experiment investigated the response of outflow P to external P loading rates (PLR = 0.3–1.3 g/m2/yr). Together with the field data from full-scale STAs, the results establish that PSTA systems are responsive to upstream P inputs (a reduction in external P inputs results in lower outflow P), whereas adjacent muck-based STA treatment cells receiving similar P inputs are not. The second experiment investigated differences in discharge TP and plant tissue and sediment P. Seven substrate-vegetation combinations were used: 0, 5, and 15 cm of limerock (LR) “cap” over indigenous muck with and without SAV found in the STAs; and a LR-only system inoculated with SAV but heavily dominated by periphyton. Rooted SAV produced internal P loads to the water column at a magnitude that is dependent upon access to the soil-P pool (muck only > LR cap over muck > LR only). Thus, the likely reason why PSTA achieves lower P discharges and exhibits external PLR influence is very low internal P loading rates (iPLR), where more elevated iPLR in muck-based systems appears to mask the effects of reducing external loading under low-P conditions. These results improve our understanding of external and internal P load contributions in low-P wetlands.

A Study on Paldang Reservoir Water Quality Improvement Effect by Pollutant Source Location Regulation Using Watershed-Reservoir Integrated Prediction

Objectives:Since the enactment of the 「Han-River Watershed Act」, comprehensive analysis about direct and indirect contributions and effects of various environmental policies and water quality improvement projects for the preservation of water quality in the Han-River watershed is insufficient. Especially, effect of pollutant source location regulation should be inferred and estimated through model prediction because it does not exist unregulated conditions. As development pressure in non-urban areas near the metropolitan area is increasing, it is necessary to analyze the effects of pollutant source location regulation.Methods:In this study, average pollutant density of Gangwon-do, Gyeonggi-do, and Chungcheongbuk-do, where the regulation areas located, and average pollutant density of water source management areas were compared and analyzed. After that changes in pollutant sources in regulation areas were estimated by assuming load of pollutant sources in unregulated areas that load of pollutant sources in regulation areas. Since many reservoirs are located in Han-river watershed, it is difficult to simulate the water quality of Paldang reservoir using only watershed model, BASINS/WinHSPF and EFDC-WASP were linked. Through this, change in water quality of Paldang Lake was tried to predict when the pollutant location regulation was not implemented, and to analyze the effect of the pollutant location regulation.Results and Discussion:Water quality improvement of Paldang reservoir was evaluated by applying the discharge load when the pollution source location regulation was not implemented to the calibrated model. As a result of the pollution source location regulation, discharge load in the location regulation area was analyzed to reduce by 53.90% and T-P by 48.58%, and the BOD and T-P improvement effect of Paldang Dam was analyzed 6.77% and T-P 6.62%. Since the water quality improvement effect of Paldang Lake is accumulated to the entire upstream, it is evaluated relatively less than pollutant load reducing effect.Conclusion:It was analyzed that pollutiont source location regulation has water quality improvement effect, despite the small area which only located in near Paldang reservoir compared to the total area of the Han-River watershed.

Simulation of the improving effect of graphene visible‐light photocatalysis using the MIKE11 model of an urban landscape river in the Chaohu Lake Basin, China

AbstractWe selected the Tanchong River in Hefei as the site to test the efficacy of graphene visible‐light photocatalysis (GVLP), a new water treatment technology to improve water quality in black‐odorous rivers in urban landscapes. A model coupling the hydrodynamic force and water quality of the Tanchong River was constructed using the MIKE11 model. The numerical simulation method was used to model the concentrations of the main pollutants—chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia nitrogen (NH3–N) and total phosphorus (TP) concentrations. The simulation of water quality in the river section treated by GVLP was verified by the Tanchong River water quality improvement project experiment. The results showed that the MIKE11 model can effectively simulate the effect of GVLP technology on water quality improvement. The removal rates of the main pollutants'—COD, NH3–N, and TP by GVLP were 43.9%, 82.1%, and 76.8%, respectively, thus proving GVLP's viability as a treatment for controlling water pollution in similar black‐odorous rivers.

Application Effect of Water Quality HSPE & EPDC Models Used to Improve Water Quality in G lake

In order to predict changes in water quality from pollutants and sewage treatment plants in Lake G located in Y-si, Gyeonggi-do, the water quality improvement project was carried out step by step using the HSPE model and EFDC (Environmental Fluid Dynamic) model. The data used in this study were carried out by correcting the model using water quality data from 2015 to 2017, and the impact was determined by investigating the sources of contamination flowing into Lake G, the subject of this study. Water quality improvement project items were applied to reduce discharge and concentration at G sewage treatment plant adjacent to G lake by 20 % compared to the current level, implement non-point pollution source reduction project, and implementation of G lake ecological river restoration project.According to the forecast, it is expected to have a great effect on the improvement of water quality by the expansion of facilities at sewage treatment plants into Lake G, maintenance of sewage pipes, non-point pollution sources, and restoration of ecological river restoration. It was set as COD and T-P as the representative items of water quality, and in case of irresponsibility, the water quality is continuously deteriorating every year. After implementing each step, the algae phenomenon of Lake G is expected to be reduced and the water quality improvement effect is expected.

Financial Analysis for Improving River Water Quality through Introduction of Organic Agriculture

With scientific awareness of the main source of water pollution from conventional agriculture along the Dagu River Basin, Qingdao, China, this study aims to identify economic efficiency in introducing an environmentally friendly agricultural policy instrument. For more exact financial analysis, considered were benefits obtained by residents and farmers from water quality improvement and conversion cost from conventional to organic agriculture. A bivariate probit model was used to estimate the mean willingness to pay (WTP) for improving the water quality of the river and determinants affecting residents’ WTP were identified. Empirical results show that mean WTPs are CNY 5.71 (USD 0.83) and CNY 26.47 (USD 3.84) per month per household, respectively. The opportunity cost of volunteering activity hours is CNY 222.77 (USD 32.39) per month per household. Application to the residents of Qingdao would obtain aggregate total benefits from improving the river water quality of CNY 7.54 billion (USD 1.09 billion)- CNY 8.23 billion (USD 1.19 billion) per year. Farmers’ profit obtained by value transfer and price index adjustment is CNY 46.61 billion (USD 6.75 billion) from organic agriculture, which is more profitable. After the implementation of organic agriculture policy, therefore, the total benefits of farmers and residents are much higher than the total cost of conversion to organic agriculture. The study results could provide a preponderant economic indicator to policy decision makers for water quality improvement projects.

Groundwater Arsenic and Fluoride and Associated Arsenicosis and Fluorosis in China: Occurrence, Distribution and Management

Arsenic and fluoride are two natural components affecting human health. Long-term exposure to arsenic and fluoride, mainly through drinking water intake, can lead to arsenicosis and fluorosis. In this paper, we summarized the distribution and hydrochemical characteristics of high-arsenic and high-fluoride groundwater, and reviewed the arsenicosis and fluorosis distribution due to consumption of high-arsenic and high-fluoride groundwater in China. The results show that there are 20 major provinces//autonomous regions (about 60%) in China suffering from high-arsenic groundwater, and these high-arsenic groundwater provinces are mainly located in the fluvial/alluvial-lacustrine plains and basins located in arid/semi-arid regions and alluvial plains/basins and river deltas in humid/semi-humid regions. Drinking water arsenicosis has been found in 13 provinces/autonomous regions, with Shanxi and Inner Mongolia being the two most seriously affected areas. High-fluoride groundwater is widely distributed in north, northeast and northwest parts of China, occurring mainly in shallow groundwater. Fluorosis has been found in 29 provinces/autonomous regions. With the continuous implementation of water quality improvement projects, drinking water fluorosis and arsenic poisoning have been effectively controlled. However, the long-term maintenance and operation of the water quality improvement project need to be further strengthened.

A watershed scale assessment of phosphorus remediation strategies for achieving water quality restoration targets in the western Everglades

Watershed scale models have become important tools to assess the effectiveness of regional and farm level remediation strategies for ecological restoration. The Everglades is an ecologically unique and complex system posing numerous challenges to water managers in South Florida. The Feeder Canal Basin (FCB) in Hendry County, Florida, drains 277 km2 of land into the central Everglades. During 2008–2017, the average annual total phosphorus (TP) concentration at the FCB outflow was approximately 89 μg/L, almost an order of magnitude higher than the restoration target for the Everglades marshes. This study aimed at evaluating remediation strategies - Best Management Practices (BMPs) and Stormwater Treatment Areas (STAs) to achieve TP targets for ecosystem restoration using an integrated modeling framework with a top-down approach. The baseline regime was modeled using the Watershed Assessment Model with multi-gage calibration (2000−2003) and validation (2004–2010). With the model performing satisfactory to very good for all gage locations, results indicated that row crops, groves & orchards, and improved pastures were largely responsible for TP concentrations and/or loads. BMP scenario results showed that TP loads could be reduced by 8% to 24% at the FCB outlet under minimal or very aggressive BMPs, respectively, indicating the need for additional water quality improvement projects to meet restoration targets. A preliminary design of two STAs, using the Dynamic Model for Stormwater Treatment Areas, estimated that a total of 52 km2 and 11.3 km2 of STAs will be required to achieve the TP concentration targets. The analysis framework employed in this study can be replicated in other watersheds to provide a holistic picture of remediation measures required to achieve water quality targets.

Data system design alters meaning in ecological data: salmon habitat restoration across the U.S. Pacific Northwest

AbstractAs an increasing variety and complexity of environmental issues confront scientists and natural resource managers, assembling the most relevant and informative data into accessible data systems becomes critical to timely problem solving. Data interoperability is the key criterion for succeeding in that assembly, and much informatics research is focused on data federation, or synthesis to produce interoperable data. However, when candidate data come from numerous, diverse, and high‐value legacy data sources, the issue of data variety or heterogeneity can be a significant impediment to interoperability. Research in informatics, computer science and philosophy has frequently focused on resolving data heterogeneity with automation, but subject matter expertise still plays a large role. In particular, human expertise is a large component in the development of tools such as data dictionaries, crosswalks, and ontologies. Such representations may not always match from one data system to another, presenting potentially inconsistent results even with the same data. Here, we use a long‐term data set on management actions designed to improve stream habitat for endangered salmon in the Pacific Northwest, to illustrate how different representations can change the underlying information content in the data system. We pass the same data set comprised of 49,619 records through three ontologies, each developed to address a rational management need, and show that the inferences drawn from the data can change with choice of data representation or ontology. One striking example shows that the use of one ontology would suggest water quality improvement projects are the rarest and most expensive restoration actions undertaken, while another will suggest these actions to be the most common and least expensive type of management actions. The discrepancy relates to the origins of the data dictionaries themselves, with one designed to catalog management actions and the other focused on ecological processes. Thus, we argue that in data federation efforts humans are “in the loop” rationally, in the form of the ontologies they have chosen, and diminishing the human component in favor of automation carries risks. Consequently, data federation exercises should be accompanied by validations in order to evaluate and manage those risks.

Measuring benefits from spatially-explicit surface water quality improvements: The roles of distance, scope, scale, and size

Programs to improve water quality do not improve all water bodies equally. Evaluation of the benefits of such programs must account for where improvements occur and the relative magnitude of improvements that occur in different places. This study uses a choice experiment survey to explore how the value to a household of a surface water quality improvement varies as a function of (i) the distance between the household and the affected streams and rivers, (ii) the degree to which the quality of the water has been improved, (iii) how many stream and river miles have been improved, and (iv) the sizes of the affected streams and rivers. Results show evidence that value declines with distance in an approximately linear way, weak evidence that large rivers are worth more than small rivers, and no evidence that willingness-to-pay is nonlinear in either the degree of water quality improvement or the number of stream miles improved. These results indicate that it may be defensible in applied work to value small, spatially-explicit water quality improvement projects independently and then sum over projects.

An Analysis of Long-term Changes in Water Quality of Geumho River using Statistical Techniques

In this study, water quality data of eight main sites in the Geumho River watershed were collected and analyzed for long-term changes in water quality over the period from 2005 to 2015. The results showed that BOD concentration was gradually improved by the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), stages 1 and 2. Recently, a tendency of increasing BOD concentration was observed in the downstream section of the river. The concentration of COD was analyzed to be contaminated throughout the water system regardless of the water quality improvement project, and the TN concentration tended to increase in the midstream of the river from 2013. The TP concentration has clearly decreased from 2012 after the second stage of TMDL. For the statistical analysis of PCA ordination, monthly water qualities (pH, DO, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Water Temperature (WT), BOD, COD, TN, TP, TOC, and SS) and flow rate data for 5 years from 2012 to 2016 were used. Seasonally the Geumho River showed an increase in the TN concentration at point sources during the dry season (December to February). TP showed the effect of non-point sources in the summer, because rainfall has caused a rise in flow rate in the upstream. Besides, the origin of pollution source was changed from non-point sources with BOD, COD, and TOC.

Improving water quality knowledge through a focus on partnership: A University of Wisconsin Discovery Farms case study

A griculture accounts for 34% of land use in Wisconsin (USDA NASS 2012), and nonpoint source pollution plays a significant role in water quality impairment (WDNR 2016). Out of 2,400 water bodies assessed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 1,294 were considered impaired, 74% of which were impaired by either phosphorus (P) or sediment, which are typically contributed by agricultural fields (WDNR 2016). In 2010, revisions to Wisconsin's Phosphorus Water Quality Standards created water quality standards for P in surface waters. To implement these standards, permit holders and agricultural producers were encouraged to work together through the compliance options called Water Quality Trading and Adaptive Management (WDNR 2012). These options allow point sources to offset their pollution load by taking credit for other P reductions in the watershed. The implementation of an enhanced regulatory package raises questions about the best way to engage with farmers in a watershed in order to document current practices and make improvements in water quality through installation of best management practices. Farmers are the focal point of many water quality improvement projects and efforts (Woods et al. 2014). The focus on farms is in part because nonpoint source pollution from agriculture contributes a significant amount…

Casselberry Asbestos Cement Pipe Bursting Project Moving Forward by Leaving it Behind

The City of Casselberry is nearing the end of its water quality improvement projects, which have utilized prechlorinated potable water main pipe bursting to replace approximately 35 mi (184,800 linear ft) of asbestos cement (AC) pipe. This project is likely the largest of its kind in the United States. The project has received $10.3 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's (FDEP) State Revolving Fund Program. The City, engineer, and contractor have worked very closely with FDEP and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to determine the applicability of the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) to the fractured pieces of AC pipe remaining in the ground after the pipe bursting process. Utilization of pipe bursting over traditional open cut provides many environmental, social, and economical benefits to the City's customers and residents. This paper will describe the working process in place to burst AC pipe while meeting all EPA regulations and will describe all the efforts to complete the project.

Review and Suggestions Related to Disease Prevention and Water Quality Improvement in Xinjiang Rural Areas, China

This paper summarizes the prevalence of waterborne diseases before disease prevention and water quality improvement project in Xinjiang rural areas, China; the measures taken in disease prevention and water quality improvement; and the current situation of the quality of rural drinking water project. Suggestions concerning the improvement of disease prevention and water quality improvement project in Xinjiang rural areas are also proposed.

Assessing the Long-term Impacts of Water Quality Outreach and Education Efforts on Agricultural Landowners

We assess the long-term effectiveness of outreach and education efforts associated with a water quality improvement project in a watershed located in northern Utah, USA. Conducted 15 years after the original project began, our research examines the lasting impacts of different extension activities on landowners’ motivations to participate and their awareness and understanding of the water quality problem. Data were gathered by reviewing annual project reports, interviewing project staff about outreach and education efforts, and conducting in-depth, semi-structured interviews with a majority of the farmers and ranchers who participated in the project. The findings suggest that landowners were motivated to participate in the programme more by practical farm and household considerations and available cost-share opportunities than by particular environmental concerns. Previous relationships between farmers and government programme staff and one-on-one visits with landowners played an important role in their decisions to participate, while demonstration projects and peer-to-peer social diffusion processes played a much smaller role than expected. Although participants had a good grasp of the project goals, they did not have a strong sense of ownership of the water quality problem. These results suggest that education and outreach approaches centred only on the environmental dimensions of conservation projects may be insufficient to motivate changes in conservation behaviour. The results also suggest that conventional outreach strategies often did not have their presumed impact on landowners.

대체비용법을 이용한 하천 수질개선편익 산정

본 연구의 목적은 댐방류에 의한 하류하천의 수질개선효과를 대체댐이 아닌 하수처리시설을 대체시설의 비용으로 적용하여 국내 실정에 맞게 편익으로 산정하는 방법론을 제시하는 것이다. 이를 위해 댐을 대체하는 시설은 댐의 방류수와 동일한 기능을 제공해야 하고, 두 시설간의 비용을 객관적으로 비교할 수 있어야 한다. 본 논문은 대체비용법을 이용하여 수질개선편익을 산정하기 위해 대체시설(하수처리장)의 비용 산정방법, 비용 편익분석 관련 기준인 내용연수와 대수선비율의 근거를 제시하였다. 사례연구로서, 낙동강수계의 내성천에 계획한 송리원댐의 수질개선편익을 산정하였으며, 그 결과는 연평균 방류시 644,006 백만원, 수질악화기의 최대방류시 1,351,526 백만원으로 산정되었다. 본 연구방법은 환경개선용수 공급사업시 실무에서 활용 가능한 수질개선 편익산정방법이 될 것으로 기대된다. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of the water quality improvement by water discharge through dams and to provide a benefit estimation methodology, taking domestic situation into consideration, by the replacement cost approach analyzed with a sewage treatment plant instead of an alternative dam. To this end, facility that alternates a dam must have same functions of the discharged water from the dam and the two facilities must be able to be compared objectively. To estimate the benefit, estimation methodology of alternative facility's cost is established and criteria of cost.benefit analysis that are duration period and ratio of large scale repairing expense was presented. As a case study, the water quality improvement benefit of Song-Li-Won dam was evaluated, which is planned to be built on Nae-Sung stream in Nak-Dong River system. The results of applying this methodology to Song-Li-Won dam are 644,006 million won of the annual average discharge and 1,351,526 million won of maximum discharge. The usage of the framework in this study is expected for estimation of water quality improvement benefit in case water quality improvement project is performed.

Tanners Lake Water Quality Improvement Project

Tanners Lake Water Quality Improvement ProjectThe Tanners Lake Water Quality Improvement Project in the Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District (RWMWD) has been awarded the 1999 first place award in the municipal category from the U.S. EPA NPDES Stormwater Control Excellence Award Program. This flyer provides a description of the project history, study findings, implementation recommendations and current status.Key elements of this program...Author(s)Clifton J. AichingerSourceProceedings of the Water Environment FederationSubjectSession 13 - Creative Watershed Programs--Case Studies IDocument typeConference PaperPublisherWater Environment FederationPrint publication date Jan, 2000ISSN1938-6478SICI1938-6478(20000101)2000:6L.1105;1-DOI10.2175/193864700785149611Volume / Issue2000 / 6Content sourceWatershed ConferenceFirst / last page(s)1105 - 1114Copyright2000Word count172