Integrated hydrological and water quality model for river management: A case study on Lena River

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2014

Authors

André Fonseca (Author) FEUP; Cidália Botelho (Author) FEUP; Rui A. R. Boaventura (Author) FEUP; Vítor J. P. Vilar (Author) FADEUP

Journal

Title: Science of the Total Environment

Vol. 485

Pages: 474-489

ISSN: 0048-9697

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 35 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 53 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology > Environmental engineering

CORDIS: Technological sciences > Technology > Environmental technology

Associated Projects

LA 20 - PROJECTO ESTRATÉGICO - LA 20 - 2013-2014

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-009-KVF

DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.03.111

Abstract (EN): The Hydrologic Simulation Program FORTRAN (HSPF) model was used to assess the impact of wastewater discharges on the water quality of a Lis River tributary (Lena River), a 176 km(2) watershed in Leiria region, Portugal. The model parameters obtained in this study, could potentially serve as reference values for the calibration of other watersheds in the area or with similar climatic characteristics, which don't have enough data for calibration. Water quality constituents modeled in this study included temperature, fecal coliforms, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, nitrates, orthophosphates and pH. The results were found to be close to the average observed values for all parameters studied for both calibration and validation periods with percent bias values between -26% and 23% for calibration and -30% and 51% for validation for all parameters, with fecal coliforms showing the highest deviation. The model revealed a poor water quality in Lena River for the entire simulation period, according to the Council Directive concerning the surface water quality intended for drinking water abstraction in the Member States (75/440/EEC). Fecal coliforms, orthophosphates and nitrates were found to be 99, 82 and 46% above the limit established in the Directive. HSPF was used to predict the impact of point and nonpoint pollution sources on the water quality of Lena River. Winter and summer scenarios were also addressed to evaluate water quality in high and low flow conditions. A maximum daily load was calculated to determine the reduction needed to comply with the Council Directive 75/440/EEC. The study showed that Lena River is fairly polluted calling for awareness at behavioral change of waste management in order to prevent the escalation of these effects with especially attention to fecal coliforms.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 16