River water quality assessment

Mannina, G., Viviani, G. River water quality assessment a hydrodynamic water quality model for propagation of pollutants. J. Water Sci. Technol. 62(2), 288-299 (2010)... 

DUNNETTE Assessing Global River Water Quality... 

What is needed is an alternative approach which permits development of valid cause and effect relationships. This strategy, one involving intensive surveys, is referred to here as mechanistic. The Willamette River, Oregon, USA, is used as a case study to illustrate quantitative, semi-quantitative and qualitative approaches to mechanistic assessment of river water quality using, respectively, dissolved oxygen depletion, erosion/deposition and potentially toxic trace elements as examples. 

Goma J, Rimet F, Cambra J, Hoffmann L, Ector L (2005) Diatom communities and water quality assessment in mountain rivers of the upper Segre basin (La Cerdanya, Oriental Pyrenees). Hydrobiologia 551 209-225... 

Persoone, G. Ecotoxicology and water quality standards. In River Water Quality - Ecological Assessment and Control Newman, P., Piavaux, A., Sweeting, R., Eds. 1992 751 pp. 

Hanmer, R.W. Biological Testing of Complex Effluents in Wastewater Regulation OECD Work and Implementation in the United States, International Conference on River Water Quality - Ecological Assessment and Control, Palias des Congres Bmssels, December 16-18, 1991. 

Morace, J.L., Fuhrer, G.J., Rinella, J.F., McKenzie, S.W. et al. (1999) Surface-Water-Quality Assessment of the Yakima River Basin, Washington Overview of Major Findings, 1987-91 U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 98-4113, U.S. Geological Survey, Portland, OR. 

Welch, A.H., Lawrence, S.J., Lico, M.S. et al. (1997) Ground-Water Quality Assessment of the Carson River Basin, Nevada and California Results of Investigations, U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper, p. 931 sheet. 

Warner, K. L., 1998, Water-quality assessment of the lower Illinois River Basin-Environmental setting U.S. Geological Survey, 97-4165, 50 p. 

Clark GM, Goolsby DA, Battaglin WA (1999) Seasonal and annnal load of herbicides from the Mississippi River Basin to the Gulf of Mexico. Environ Sci Technol 33 981-986 Schnoebelen DJ, Kalkhoff SJ, Becher KD, Thurman EM (2003) Water-quality assessment of the Eastern Iowa Basins Selected pesticides and pesticide degradates in streams, 1996-98. US. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 03-4075... 

Zhang Y, Guo F, Meng W, Wang XQ (2009) Water quality assessment and source identification of Daliao river basin using multivariate statistical methods. Environ Monit Assess 152 105-121... 

In 1974, the Harmonized Monitoring Programme was set up by the Department of the Environment (DoE). The objective was to provide a network of sites at the lower end of catchments, where water quality data could be collected and analysed in a nationally consistent manner, allowing the loads of materials carried through river catchments into estuaries to be estimated and long-term trends in river quality to be assessed. The complete list of substances to be monitored is diverse and specifies about 115 substances. The pesticides aldrin, dieldrin, y-HCH, heptachlor, p,p -DDT and p,p -DDE are included. Figures 1 and 2 show the downward trend of y-HCH and dieldrin over the past 20 years at the Harmonized Monitoring Sites. This confirms that reductions in environmental concentrations have been achieved, particularly over the past 10 years. 

The most recent comprehensive assessment of the quality of rivers in the USA is that of Smith et al. 12), This followed an earlier assessment by Wolman et al. in 1971 (iS). The former 1987 assessment was based on 24 water quality measures from 161-383 stations around the country covering the period 1974-1981. Trends observed included major increases in nitrate, phosphorous, sodium, suspended sediment, fecal bacteria, dissolved oxygen deficit, arsenic and selenium. Major decreases were observed with nitrate, suspended sediment, fecal bacteria, dissolved oxygen deficit and lead. 

Mechanistic Approaches. Adequate and appropriate river-quality assessment must provide predictive information on the possible consequences of water and land development. This requires an understanding of the relevant cause and effect relationships and suitable data to develop predictive models for basin management. This understanding may be achieved through qualitative, semi-quantitative or quantitative approaches. When quantitative or semi-quantitative methods are not available the qualitative approach must be applied. Qualitative assessments involve knowledge of how basin activities may affect river quality. This requires the use of various descriptive methods. An example of this kind of assessment is laboratory evaluation of the extent to which increases in plant nutrients, temperature or flow may lead to accelerated eutrophication with consequent reduction of water quality. 

The Willamette River Basin, Oregon serves as an excellent case study of river quality assessment for a number of reasons. First, the Willamette River has been cited internationally as a classic example of how water quality can be restored from a previously poor quality waterway (1-3). Second, excellent background data were available, particularly on hydrology. Third, at the time most of these studies were initiated, the Willamette River was the largest river in the U.S. for which all point-source discharges were receiving secondary wastewater treatment. 

The goals of this chapter do not include a "state of the art" literature review which would be appropriate for a more in-depth discussion of one particular problem area. Rather the intent is to illustrate mechanistic approaches to river quality assessment using the three globally relevant water quality problem areas discussed in the previous chapter dissolved oxygen depletion, erosion/deposition, and potentially toxic trace elements. The information provided does not include all rationale, methology or approaches used in the study as this is beyond the scope of the chapter. Additional general information on application of the intensive river quality assessment approach in the Willamette River basin may be found elsewhere (4-9, 11-14, 17). 

Navarro E, Guasch H, Sabater S (2002) Use of microbenthic algal communities in ecotoxico-logical tests for the assessment of water quality the Ter river case study. J Appl Phycol 14 41... 

Ohio River Valley Sanitation Commission. 1980. Assessment of water quality eonditions. Ohio River Mainstream 1978-9. Cincinnati, OH Ohio River Valley Water Sanit Comm 34 T-53. 

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